Rain may be in the weather forecast for this weekend but it likely won’t do much to dampen the tinder-dry conditions in local green spaces.
So Coquitlam Fire/Rescue has some tips for people who live adjacent to those spaces to reduce the amount of fuel and the risk of wildfires, as well as the potential for any wildfire to hit a home. They include:
• Reduce the amount of fuel by pruning shrubs, removing dead and dry vegetation, and tree limbs 2 to 3 m from the ground.
• Prune branches that overhang your roof and keep it, and gutters, clear of dead needles and dry leaves.
• Break up any vegetation that runs from the green space to your home so there’s not a continuous canopy.
• Move debris or firewood at least 10 m from your home.
• When cutting the grass, be aware of any rocks because they could cause a spark when struck by a mower’s blade.
• Don’t toss cigarette butts.
• Don’t do any outdoor burning.
• Don’t park your vehicle with the exhaust pipe over a dry lawn as a spark or hot emission could ignite it.
The fire department also has a number of seasonal safety tips, including advice for the safe use of barbecues, on its website coquitlam.ca/seasonalsafety.
