Ongoing dry weather means plenty of summer rays for sun-seekers in Metro Vancouver, but it also means the risk of fire in our regional green spaces is dangerously elevated.
Currently all but two of the regional parks operated by Metro Vancouver are under an "extreme fire danger" rating, which means serious restrictions about fire activity and additional cause to be on alert while enjoying the parks.
Fire/Shutterstock
"Continued dry weather has resulted in conditions that are tinder dry and extremely sensitive to sparks and fire," notes the alert.
Things that are absolutely prohibited are campfires and briquette barbecues/cooking stoves, as well as smoking--even in designated smoking areas.
Some parks will allow propane or gas-powered barbecues or cooking stoves, with varying conditions, such as in which areas they may be used, with the stipulation you remain with your cooking apparatus, however some parks also have these kinds of cooking fires banned as well.
The "Extreme Fire Danger" rating is applied to the following Metro Vancouver Regional Parks:
- Aldergrove Regional Park
- Barnston Island Regional Park
- Belcarra Regional Park
- Blaney Bog Regional Park Reserve (not open to the public)
- Boundary Bay Regional Park
- Brae Island Regional Park
- Brunette-Fraser Regional Greenway
- Burnaby Lake Regional Park
- Campbell Valley Regional Park
- Capilano River Regional Park
- Codd Wetland Ecological Conservancy Area (not open to the public)
- Colony Farm Regional Park
- Crippen Regional Park
- Deas Island Regional Park
- Delta-South Surrey Regional Greenway
- Derby Reach Regional Park
- Fraser Islands Regional Park Reserve (not open to the public)
- Glen Valley Regional Park
- Grouse Mountain Regional Park
- Iona Beach Regional Park
- Kanaka Creek Regional Park
- Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
- Matsqui Trail Regional Park
- Minnekhada Regional Park
- Pacific Spirit Regional Park
- Pitt River Regional Greenway
- Surrey Bend Regional Park
- Thwaytes Landing Regional Park
- Tynehead Regional Park
- Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve (not open to the public)
Two areas operated by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve and the Seymour River Regional Greenway are under a "High Fire Danger" alert level.
Other communities in the region are taking action to ban fires in parks within their jurisdiction, too. Port Moody has issued a ban on the use of outdoor cooking appliances of any kind in city parks, forested areas and public green spaces.
The ban, which went into effect Tuesday (Aug. 7) includes appliances or devices that use propane, charcoal briquettes, or liquid or gas fuels.
With files from the Tri-City News
Related:
- Temperatures in some parts of B.C. could reach 40: Environment Canada
- Officers issued $14,950 in campfire ban tickets near Squamish last weekend
