The Coastal Fire Centre is rescinding its ban on category two fires, effective noon Wednesday Sept. 18 (Pixnio)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

ban lifted

Coastal Fire Centre lifts final fire ban after light summer

Sep 18, 2019 | 4:29 AM

NANAIMO — The 2019 summer fire season is seemingly in the books for the Coastal Fire Centre.

The category two fire ban is lifted at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Fires measuring between two and three metres will now be permitted.

It’s the last fire restriction to be lifted within the Coastal Fire Centre.

Fire information officer Marg Drysdale said people need to be aware of allowable fire sizes.

“Some people having bonfires consider them a campfire, however if they are over a campfire’s legal size (half a metre by half a metre), they’re considered a category two,” she said.

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“If you’re having backyard debris burning or a burn barrel, those are allowed within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.”

However, its jurisdiction doesn’t impact everyone. Burn bylaws from the City of Nanaimo and the Regional District take precedence over Coastal Fire Centre rules.

The City of Nanaimo prohibits open fires such as campfires, burn barrels and beach fires within city limits.

Residential burning for the purpose of disposing of large amounts of organic yard waste is allowed with a permit and provided the fire and weather meet several conditions.

Summer 2019 was one of the quietest in recent history for the Coastal Fire Centre. No campfire ban was issued for the first time since 2012, with overall activity down.

Drysdale said 157 total fires were registered in the area they cover.

“One hundred and five were human caused which is slightly disappointing. The fact they haven’t really materialized into large fires is down to weather conditions. We’ve had precipitation that’s been sporadic and been in our favour.”

Drysdale added the remaining 52 fires were attributed to lightning strikes.

With the active fire situation seemingly now over for the year, focus for area crews turns elsewhere.

“Our crews do a lot of project work. They may be working in the community, doing a variety of fuel mitigation projects.”

Crews remain ready to respond to any further sparks, especially with warmer and drier weather in the short term forecast.

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