Butt out: B.C. a tinderbox

 

 
 
 
 
Conair suppression teams from Abbotsford have already been busy, pictured here dousing a forest fire in the Chilliwack River Valley Monday.
 

Conair suppression teams from Abbotsford have already been busy, pictured here dousing a forest fire in the Chilliwack River Valley Monday.

Photograph by: Fred McConnell, for the Times

You can't have open fires, campfires or charcoal barbecues, light fireworks or tiki torches or even fire up those popular clay or metal chimineas in your backyard in Abbotsford or Mission.

And wherever you are, don't throw smouldering cigarette butts outside.

As wild fire danger ratings hit high or extreme through most of the province, local authorities ask residents to be extra cautious and to follow city restrictions.

As of yesterday, campfire bans in coastal B.C. were extended tovirtually the entire province to include Kamloops, the Northwest, Cariboo and Prince George, the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

"That just reinforces the restrictions we already had in place," said Abbotsford Fire Chief Don Beer. The fire bans include Sumas Mountain Regional Park and the Crown land on Sumas Mountain, he said.

Mission's ban area includes its municipal forest on Crown land, and all open burning, including campfires, open fires for cooking, warmth or ceremonial purposes.

- If you see a wild fire or see someone violating the ban, call 911. For other details, call the Abbotsford Fire Department at 604-853-3566, Mission fire at 604-820-3794 or see www.abbotsford.ca and www.mission.ca

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Conair suppression teams from Abbotsford have already been busy, pictured here dousing a forest fire in the Chilliwack River Valley Monday.
 

Conair suppression teams from Abbotsford have already been busy, pictured here dousing a forest fire in the Chilliwack River Valley Monday.

Photograph by: Fred McConnell, for the Times

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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