Four fire trucks were called to extinguish a large backyard burn on Chamberlain Road outside Gibsons on Tuesday, March 19.
The Gibsons and District Volunteer Fire Department was called at 3 p.m. to put out a brush fire that had become unmanageable after the wind picked up, said Fire Chief Rob Michael.
The 50-metre by 30-metre fire burned near the property line of two separate neighbours. No structures were threatened and the fire was extinguished in less than an hour, but not before jumping a mesh fence on one property line and approaching the next.
“It wasn’t a major incident,” said Michael, who indicated the fire should serve as a reminder that people must adhere to their local bylaws when considering outdoor fires.
Backyard burns can’t exceed two metres in diameter and one metre in height and must be a minimum of 15 metres from any building and five metres inside property lines, according to Sunshine Coast Regional District bylaw. Fires should be well clear of surrounding flammable materials and a means of extinguishment should be ready to hand.
In the case of the Chamberlain Road burn, “the area around it was not clear of the combustible material,” said Michael, so when the wind picked up nearby twigs and tree branches caught fire.
Fifteen crewmembers attended and trucks were stationed at locations near other property lines as a precaution. “Sometimes we’ll over-resource them to make sure it doesn’t become a larger incident,” Michael said.
The backyard burning season closes on April 15 for all rural electoral areas excluding Pender Harbour. Outdoor burning in the Town of Gibsons is prohibited. Residents are encouraged to contact their local fire department for information about burning rules in their locales.
Michael said he has observed a trend in illegal burning and complaints over the last five years, and with precedent-setting wildfire seasons, departments are revising their means of preparation. He hasn’t observed any specific upticks for the 2019 backyard burning season, however, despite lower than average precipitation in February and March.
