CURRENT BURN CONDITIONS

Updated May 2, 2020

CLASS A BURNING – open burning larger than 2m wide x 1m high – prohibited.

CLASS B BURNING – open burning smaller than 2m wide x 1m high – prohibited.

CLASS C BURNING – use of domestic incinerators (barrels capped with 3/8” steel mesh) – prohibited

                                    – campfires less than 0.5m (2’) wide – permitted

NO FIRES ANYTIME of any kind in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (National Park)

For further detail, please see “Saturna Island Burn Regulations”, below:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

As of May 1st, 2020 – Burn barrels banned for the season

Hello Islanders,

Please note that there will be a cancellation of permission for “domestic incinerator” usage as of May 1st. This, again, brings us inline with the Provincial regulations. The reasons remain the same as before; concerns over the respiratory health of our vulnerable and ill citizens, and volume of emergency calls.

For those of you with yard debris that you had hoped to burn this spring, the Fire Smart committee is working on the funding of a community chipper day. I should not promise anything yet, but look out for a likely announcement on a coming event.

Open burning remains prohibited

Campfires (defined as fires less than 0.5m wide, for cooking or recreation), are still permitted at this time.

Thanks

Peter Clark

Chief, SIVFD

 

Ps. Please check www.SIFPS.ca for details anytime.

 

April 27, 2020

 

Saturna Island Burning Regulations

Outdoor burning on Saturna Island is regulated by CRD bylaw 3452, which can be found at:

https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/document-library/Documents/bylaws/fireprotection

The bylaw distinguishes between 3 kinds of outdoor fires:

CLASS A – open burning of debris in piles larger than 2m wide x 1m high, and any land clearing debris

CLASS B – open burning of debris in piles smaller than 2m wide x 1m high

CLASS C – includes campfires, which are fires less than 0.5m wide used for cooking, or warmth. Also includes the use of domestic incinerators, which are steel burn barrels or other fireproof containers capped with steel mesh with holes no larger than 3/8” (10mm).

CLASS A fires require a permit year-round. A permit (registration number) can be obtained by phoning (888) 797-1717. A copy of the WILDFIRE ACT AND REGULATION can be viewed on the BC Forest Service website at: bcwildfire.ca/LegReg/ which outlines the obligations of those undertaking open burning.

In the NATIONAL PARK, or GINPR, there are NO FIRES permitted anytime.

CLASS B fires require a permit during Fire Season, which runs from April 15 – October 31st, or as extended by the fire chief. At all times of the year, the fires must:

  • Be 10m from any building, structure, fence, tree or hedge
  • Have no green (less than 30 days old) debris
  • Be for no more than 4 consecutive days
  • Have no materials added within 2 hours of sunset
  • Be continuously controlled and supervised, with sufficient tools, water and labour on site to control and prevent it from spreading.

CLASS C fires do not require a permit, but permission to have them will be canceled by the fire chief when weather conditions warrant. They must also be used responsibly all year round, and a full set of conditions can be read in the bylaw linked above.

Other activities that can be prohibited at times of the year are industrial and “high risk activities”, which include, but are not limited to, mechanical brushing, use of explosives or fireworks, use of spark-producing tools, use of a vehicle with metal tracks, chains or studs, wood milling, logging, etc.

The fire chief and his/her agents take direction from the BC wildfire service on when to permit or prohibit various burning and other outdoor activities that entail fire risk.