A campfire ban will take effect at noon on Friday, August 14, in the fire protection areas of Oyster River, Merville, and Mount Washington.
The expanded campfire ban is in response to current wildfire risk conditions and follows campfire bans already in place in other Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) fire protection areas.
The beach fire program at Goose Spit Park will be closed for the season as of Thursday, August 13, and the fire rings will be removed.
“Wildfire risk remains elevated across the province, and after a prolonged period of dry weather, we need to do everything we can to prevent human-caused fires,” says CVRD Regional Rural Fire Chief Bruce Green. “Expanding the campfire ban is an important step in reducing that risk, and we appreciate everyone doing their part to help keep our communities, natural areas, and emergency responders safe.”
Campfire bans are already in effect in the following CVRD fire protection areas:
- Denman Island Fire Rescue
- Fanny Bay Volunteer Fire Department
- Hornby Island Fire Rescue
- Ships Point Volunteer Fire Department
- Union Bay Fire Rescue
Effective noon on Friday, August 14, campfire bans will also apply in the following CVRD fire protection areas:
- Merville Fire Department
- Mount Washington Fire Department
- Oyster River Fire Rescue
Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Comox Valley. These include larger fires used to burn yard waste, land-clearing debris, slash piles, and grass.
The campfire ban does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes, or to portable campfire devices that use briquettes, liquid, or gaseous fuel, provided they are approved by the Canadian Standards Association or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada and the flame height is less than 15 centimetres.
Smoking continues to be prohibited in all CVRD parks. Fire rings at Joe Walker Park are unavailable, and the barbecue shelters at Joe Walker Park and Royston Seaside Trail remain closed. For a complete list of CVRD parks, visit the Parks, Trails & Beach Access page at comoxvalleyrd.ca/parks.
For more information on your fire service area or to contact your local fire department, visit comoxvalleyrd.ca/fire.
The Comox Valley Regional District is a partnership of three electoral areas and three municipalities operating on the unceded traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the traditional keepers of the land. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on providing sustainable services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
- 30 -
Media Contact:
Bruce Green
Regional Rural Fire Chief
250-337-8121