High Risk Activities Restrictions

• mechanical brushing (example: industrial scale brushing)
• disk trenching (example: mechanical preparation of logged site)
• preparation or use of explosives (example: blasting)
• using fire- or spark-producing tools, including cutting tools (example: cutting torches, metal grinders) 
• using or preparing fireworks or pyrotechnics (example: fireworks display)
• grinding, including rail grinding (example: angle grinder)
• mechanical land clearing (example: excavator or skidder logging or digging out stumps)

• clearing and maintaining rights of way, including grass mowing (example: commercial right of way mowing; BC hydro brushing. Not residential lawn mowing)

Any of the following activities carried out in a cutblock excluding a road, landing, roadside work area or log sort area in the cutblock.

• operating a power saw (example: cutting firewood off a road in a combustible area) 
• mechanical tree felling, woody debris piling or tree processing, including de-limbing (example: logging activity or cutting firewood off a road in a combustible area)
• welding (example: any welding off a road) 
• portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing (example: these activities when done outside of an industrial worksite within a fire protection district) 
• skidding logs or log forwarding unless it is improbable that the skidding or forwarding will result in the equipment contacting rock (example: logging activity) 
• yarding logs using cable systems (example: any logging activity that uses cable yarding equipment)

Yes. Residents can use their lawnmowers for cutting their lawns. If the lawn is green, requires cutting and has been irrigated, it is likely fire resistant. If residents want to mow their lawn when it is dry and dead, we recommend holding off or using preventative measures such as pre wet and post wet lawn; and remain onsite after mowing to watch out for smouldering fires. Have fire suppression available (garden hose) and a way to contact 9-1-1 if needed.

Yes. Same principles as lawn mowing, but extra precautions should be discussed with the fire department if using metal disk blades.

Yes. Arborists can continue to use manual tools and tools that don’t cause a spark. Power saw use on green lawn areas, driveways, landings, roadways, or other non-combustible areas may not be a high risk activity. Arborists are encouraged to contact the appropriate agency to discuss the high risk activities restrictions as they apply to the work to be done. To identify the appropriate agency, view map.

Yes. Farming activities are permitted during a high risk activities ban. During heightened fire risk conditions consideration should be given to the crop stage and moisture content, wind speed, the type of equipment being used, time of day and availability of emergency fire suppression equipment.  If the fire danger is extreme, farmers should consider holding off haying until the fire danger drops. Farmers are also encouraged to contact the appropriate agency to discuss their planned farming activity. To identify the appropriate agency, view map.

No. As long as the excavation is being done on dirt or mineral soil and not on or near a combustible area like the forest floor or grassy area then excavating is not considered a high-risk-activity. Examples of excavating could be construction sites, septic tank, driveway work, etc. Excavating does not include land clearing which is a high-risk activity.

Yes. Power saw use on green lawn grass, driveways, landings, roadways, or other non-combustible areas may not be a high risk activity. Chainsaw use in the forest or grassy area is a high risk activity and is restricted.

If you have an emergency call 911.
You can contact the appropriate agency to discuss the high risk activities restrictions.
To identify the appropriate agency, view map.