All open burning has been banned throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) fire protection services areas.
The ban, which took effect on June 8, applies to open fires of any size, campfires, fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches, burn barrels and cages, binary exploding targets and chimineas (outdoor stoves that use wood as a fuel source). These bans apply to all public and private land and are in place until Oct. 31, or until the order is rescinded by BC Wildfire Service.
The ban does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to portable campfire devices with a CSA or ULC rating using briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel that do not produce a flame longer than 15 centimetres. Portable campfire devices that do not meet these conditions are prohibited.
To help residents access fire services-related information, the RDN has developed a Fire Protection and Open Burning Regulations interactive map.
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The online tool shows residents which fire department provides fire protection services in their area and also provides useful links to burning bylaws, venting index information and the province’s website for the most up-to-date information on fire bans and restrictions.
Learn how to protect your home from wildfire by taking action and creating a FireSmart property. You can easily increase the resistance of your home and property to damage caused by wildfire. Changes you can make to your home, and the areas closest to it, will have the greatest potential to reduce the risk of wildfire damage.
Simple actions to take include regular yard maintenance, using non-combustible or fire-resistant building materials, reducing debris near buildings and choosing fire-resistant plants and trees. Click here to download the FireSmart BC Homeowner’s Manual.
To access the fire services map as well as other interactive RDN maps for zoning, parks and trails, utilities, active permits and more, visit rdn.bc.ca/gis-mapping. To learn more about FireSmart best practices to help protect your family, property and community from wildfire, visit rdn.bc.ca/firesmart.
For information on wildfires in B.C., residents can check the BC Wildfire Map or follow BC Wildfire Service on Facebook and Twitter. For updates on fire weather and smoke across Canada, visit firesmoke.ca. To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a mobile phone.
— NEWS Staff, submitted