A partial campfire ban will take effect at noon on Thursday, July 16, for the fire protection areas of Union Bay, Fanny Bay, Denman Island, and Hornby Island. The ban follows BC Wildfire Service's Category 1 campfire prohibition issued for these locations due to increased wildfire risk.
Category 1 campfires are permitted in the fire protection areas of Merville, Mount Washington, and Oyster River.
Category 2 and Category 3 open fires continue to be prohibited throughout the Comox Valley. These include larger fires used to burn yard waste, land clearing debris, slash piles, and grass. Residents should check with their local fire department for the latest fire restrictions.
To further reduce the risk of wildfire, the fire rings at Joe Walker Park will be removed and the barbecue area will be closed. The barbecue shelter at Royston Seaside Trail and the beach fire program at Goose Spit Park are not affected by the ban.
"The return of hot, dry weather has increased wildfire risk in parts of the Comox Valley," says Bruce Green, Regional Rural Fire Chief for the Comox Valley Regional District. "Reinstating the campfire ban in these areas is an important step in reducing the risk of human-caused wildfires and protecting our communities."
The following fire departments have reinstated the campfire ban:
- Denman Island Fire Rescue
- Fanny Bay Volunteer Fire Department
- Hornby Island Fire Rescue
- Ships Point Volunteer Fire Department
- Union Bay Fire Rescue
The campfire ban does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes, or portable campfire devices that use briquettes, liquid, or gaseous fuel, provided they are approved by the Canadian Standards Association or the Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, and the flame height is less than 15 centimetres.
For more information about your fire service area or to contact your local fire department, visit: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/fire.
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Media Contact:
Bruce Green
Regional Rural Fire Chief
250-337-8121