FIRE DANGER RATING: HIGH

CURRENT BURN RESTRICTIONS

Updated JULY 20, 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 – prohibited

“HIGH RISK” ACTIVITIES – permitted until fire danger rating reaches Extreme

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:

 

July 31, 2020

The fire danger class rating is projected to reach “Extreme” in the coming days. When it does, there will be restrictions on “high risk activities”

 

Hello Islanders,

The local fire danger rating, as monitored by the BC wildfire service, is likely to reach EXTREME in the coming days. When it does, all “high risk” and “industrial” activities will be subject to “early shift”: they must end by 1pm daily, and be followed by a 2 hour firewatch.

After several consecutive days of Extreme rating, all high risk and industrial activities will be shut down.

Please note also that no open burning, barrel burning, or campfires are permitted at this time.

No fires are allowed at any time in the National Park.

For more details and explanations of “high risk activities”, please see below.

The Fire Chief or designate has authority under CRD Bylaw 3452 to issue written permission to work during times of fire restrictions or closures. Permits may be issued providing suitable fire safety plans and prevention measures are implemented to mitigate the fire risks. Permits may be obtained from the fire chief. Consideration will be given to location.

Thanks

Peter Clark

Chief, SIVFD

 

“High risk activity” means each of the following: mechanical brushing, disk trenching, preparation or use of explosives, using fire- or spark- producing tools including cutting tools, using or preparing fireworks or pyrotechnics, grinding, mechanical land clearing, log forwarding other than by logging truck on a road, skidding logs, yarding logs using cable systems, using a vehicle with metal tracks, chains or studs, operating a power saw, clearing or maintaining right of ways, including grass mowing, rock drilling, tree processing including de-limbing, welding, portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing. This is as per CRD bylaw 3452

 “Early shift” means high risk activities must cease by 1pm, and be followed by a 2 hour fire watch. During that time, non-high risk activities can be completed, while someone remains at the site and monitors for any sign of smoke.

“Shut down” means all high risk activities are banned, unless written permission is issued by the fire chief or designate.

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).

Also included in Class C are charcoal grills, outdoor contained wood-burning appliances, and the like.

Propane appliances are NOT included in Class C

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 and the CRD bylaw on when to permit or prohibit various burning and other outdoor activities that entail fire risk. Ultimately, the Fire chief has the authority under the CRD bylaw to determine when to restrict certain activities that involve risk of fire.