CAMPBELL RIVER, BC – The sun and warm weather are inviting, perfect for outdoor fires.
But Campbell River’s fire chief has a warning for residents.
Fire Chief Thomas Doherty said residents need to make sure they are aware of the city’s bylaws before starting any fires.
“A lot of people aren’t aware of this, but the city does specify an Area A and Area B,” Doherty said.
Area A includes residential areas within the city as well as the beachfront. Area B is south of Jubilee Parkway and the rest of the Inland Highway (Highway 19).
“Any open burning is restricted in Area A. The only thing that’s allowed is recreational fires, so your campfires, beach fires.”
He said these types of open burning fires are restricted to 24 inches (60 centimetres) in size, and residents must have a means of extinguishing the fire on hand.
Doherty said that open burning in Area B is restricted to daylight hours during October and April, and that fires can’t be larger than four cubic meters (five feet by five feet by five feet).
The city’s bylaw also states that the fire department must be notified if residents intend on having an open fire in Area B, and that the fire is on the person’s property and is at least 15 feet away from electric lines, buildings, shrubs, trees, wood fences or any other combustible material.
Area B fires must also always be supervised by someone 16 years or older.
Doherty said residents can still enjoy recreational fires now as there is no ban yet.
“Right now, we’re watching the weather index closely along with the BC Wildfire Service. We typically follow the province when they put bans in place. There’s nothing in place as of yet.”
“If you’re going to go out in the outdoors and enjoy a beachfire, say. Take a bucket with you and fully extinguish your fire when you’re done. Keep those fires in accordance to the bylaw,” Doherty added.
“I really stress the fact that you need to make sure the fire is out before you leave. We attend to a lot of (calls for) unattended fires, left overnight that spread beyond the fire location into the logs on the beach or the grass and becomes a bit more of a problem.”
For more on the bylaw, as well as the map for Area A and Area B, visit this link.
