With warm, dry weather expected to stick around the Lower Mainland over the weekend, Port Moody Fire Chief Remo Faedo said open burning restrictions are now in effect within the city.
That means campfires, barbecues in city parks that require charcoal briquettes or wood, tiki torches, fireworks, firecrackers, candles and sky lanterns are all prohibited until further notice.
Open fires and smoking are already not permitted in all city parks in the Tri-Cities.
“The recent warm weather creates dry forest conditions and with temperatures expected to move into the 30s later this week, there is a higher risk for accidental fires,” Faedo said in a press release.
Port Moody has a four-tiered fire hazard rating that it displays at Ioco Road and Murray Street that is currently set at “high.”
Open air burning is prohibited in Coquitlam year-round but Assistant Fire Chief Jim Ogloff told The Tri-City News that now is a good time to remind the public to be vigilant about any potential fire starters.
He said higher fines are issued to residents who smoke in city parks between June and September
“If we do start to spend more time in the extreme, then we will look at further restrictions,” he said.
According to the British Columbia Wildfire Service, the danger rating as of Thursday was high for most of the Lower Mainland and extreme in many parts of the province.
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