A large mature cedar hedge went up in flames on Hammond Bay Rd. on Tuesday, May 14. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

landscaping error

‘This was an accident:’ cedar hedge blaze sparks warning from Nanaimo Fire Rescue

May 15, 2024 | 4:24 PM

NANAIMO — Highly flammable shrubs and trees located near homes are a potential recipe for disaster.

That warning from Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) assistant chief David Dales after gardening maintenance work with a blow torch went wrong in Nanaimo’s north end on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 14.

A cedar hedge was obliterated by flames at a property on Hammond Bay Rd. near Fillinger Cres., while the intense heat damaged two homes.

“This was an accident, this was a mistake, we were quickly able to mitigate the mistake. It’s not a common thing, but it has to be on the forefront of everyone’s thought processes in today’s modern world,” Dales said, referencing persistent south coast drought conditions.

This mature cedar hedge went up in flames within just a few minutes, sending thick dark smoke into the air. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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He noted the man with the torch sustained superficial injuries.

A mature cedar privacy hedge separating two properties and lining the front of the home adjacent to where the incident occurred erupted into flames, Dales said.

He noted their crews were on scene within four minutes, while a Good Samaritan provided critical interim assistance by using a garden hose to slow the fire’s growth.

Dales said widely accepted fire smart principles highly recommend that combustible organic material should be several feet away from structures.

“Cedar is a very flammable organic material when it’s bone-dry and that’s what happened, the fire was started and it spread rapidly.”

While Dales said cedar hedge fires only happen periodically in Nanaimo, he said hopefully this incident gives people a sense just how flammable the trees are.

“Its got what we call ladder fuels, so any fire that’s from the ground can quickly leap up into the tree and continue on.”

FireSmart BC has extensive information on fire-proofing residential properties, including fire-resistant landscaping tips.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes