For the first time since 2012, the Coastal Fire Centre will not issue a campfire ban for the summer months. (Freepik/

By Alex Rawnsley

NO FIRE BAN

Summer campfires escape ban for first time in seven years

Aug 28, 2019 | 9:17 AM

NANAIMO — For the first time since 2012, the Coastal Fire Centre will not be issuing a campfire ban for the summer months.

The decision was made by staff ahead of the Labour Day long weekend.

“Reports for the next few days and over the weekend, we’re going to see some cooler temperatures by Friday and scattered showers throughout the weekend,” Nicole Gagnon, Coastal Fire Centre information officer told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Gagnon added there are a considerable number of factors that go into the placing of a fire ban.

“Namely the weather, the current fire danger rating and the current activity that’s happening elsewhere in the region.”

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The lack of a ban is a reflection of the quiet summer that fire crews have had in 2019.

“(As of Aug. 28), we’re at 135 fires total in the Coastal Fire Centre, which is below the ten year average of 200. 99 of those fires were human caused versus 36 that were human caused.”

Despite the favourable conditions, officials are still asking the public to exercise caution when lighting up a campfire over the long weekend.

That includes ensuring fires are a half metre by half metre in size, never leaving the fire unattended, having at least eight litres of water on standby and when finished with the fire, ensure it is completely doused and cool to the touch with no lingering embers.

The Coastal Fire Centre also did not issue a campfire ban in 2011, 2006 and 2005.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley