8:45 a.m., July 26
A sight for dry eyes — and grass.
Roughly 20 mm of rain fell down on the Tri-Cities on Monday (July 24) to start the final week of July, providing nourishment for Port Moody's forested areas.
On Tuesday afternoon (July 25), Port Moody officials downgraded to city's fire danger rating to "low" in response to the cooler weather after a week under the highest level of threat.
Firefighters enacted an "extreme" rating on July 19 after temperatures reached as high as 30°C, leading to a ban on the use of cooking and warming appliances in public green spaces and parks.
That ban has since been lifted, said acting fire chief Kirk Heaven.
"Thank you to Port Moody residents and visitors for co-operating and complying with the ban, which helped to prevent any fire incidents in our parks and forested lands," said Heaven.
However, he warned the ban may return if Mother Nature provides another heatwave of any size.
"I'd like to remind everyone that smoking is not permitted in City parks at any time, and open fires are banned year-round. Let's all continue to do our part to prevent wildfires."
The cooking ban comes with a $500 fine if anyone is in violation, according to City of Port Moody bylaws.
For more information, you can visit Port Moody Fire Rescue's website.
1:45 p.m., July 19
You can not smoke, light open fires for warmth or cook in Port Moody parks.
The city is currently under an "extreme" fire rating, meaning there's a great risk for wildfires with summer temperatures rising and drier conditions in wooded areas.
As of today (July 19), Port Moody firefighters have implemented a ban on outdoor burning activities, including cooking, in local parks, forested lands and public green spaces.
Temperatures, as of this update, are just below 30°C in the Port Moody area, according to Weatherhood, with 44 per cent humidity.
The ban will remain in effect until there's significant rainfall in the region and when officials deem is safe, according to City of Port Moody bylaws.
The fine is $500 for anyone caught breaking the ban.
"As a reminder, smoking is not permitted in city parks at any time, and open fires are banned year-round within the municipal boundaries of the City of Port Moody," said acting fire chief Kirk Heaven in a statement.
"Extreme" is the highest level in the four-step fire danger scale.
Activities banned in Port Moody parks include:
- Any open fire for personal warmth or cooking
- Portable wood burning devices
- ie. tiki torches and sky lanterns.
- CSA- or UL-rated cooking stoves that utilize propane or charcoal briquettes
- Portable campfire devices that utilize charcoal briquettes, or liquid or gaseous fuels
For more information, you can visit Port Moody Fire Rescue's website.
All fires banned
Meanwhile, since July 7, a ban has been in place for all open burning and campfires in the Coastal Fire Centre.
Port Moody and the Tri-Cities are a part of this region within the Chilliwack Forest District.
The decision came in the wake of several dozen new wildfires sparked across the province.
It's expected to remain in place until the end of October or until the order is rescinded.
The ban, according to the BC Wildfire Service, also applies to restricting:
- Fireworks
- Sky Lanterns
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Binary Exploding Targets
- Air curtain burners
- Tiki and similar kind of torches
- Chimineas
To report a wildfire, you're urged to call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cell phone.
