Story updated since 10 a.m., July 23.
A bush fire located between the tent city on Hightide Avenue and a town-home complex on Ebbtide Avenue, was intentionally set, says Steven Achterberg, deputy fire chief of prevention with the Sechelt Fire Department.
“The suspect has been identified to police and they're looking for them now to issue a $1,150 fine for burning against contravention to fire ban,” Achterberg told Coast Reporter. “So, I want to remind the public that there is a campfire ban in place until October 30, 2025 and this includes all wood-fired appliances. So, wood-fired pizza oven, hot tubs, etc.”
Achterberg said it’s fortunate there was no wind at the time of the fire, because in the four minutes it took fire fighters to respond, the blaze had spread to approximately 4,000 square feet. He added, the crew had water on the blaze within seven minutes, stopping the fire from spreading to the adjacent town-home complex, likely saving $20 million in property damage.
Achterberg said the crew had the flames knocked down in less than 10 minutes and the area was fully overhauled in about an hour.
“Luckily, we didn't have a lot of wind. That would have been a lot more tricky, because the grass was so dry, the embers were kind of spraying around and we were getting little spot fires,” said Achterberg. “So, we had a few areas to dig out.”
He noted the quick response time was due to the new permanent day crew now in place at the department. Unlike previously, when the department relied solely on volunteers, a crew of paid firefighters are now in place at the station from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
“We're just busy here now, really busy, and it's really hard to maintain a strict volunteer model, so we've had to make some steps to adapt and serve the community better,” said Achterberg.
Achterberg added this is the 14th bush fire the department has responded to this year, of which 13 were caused by humans. At the scene of the fire, he said that bushy area behind the fence, which separates that area from the homeless encampment, has become a popular spot for people to hang out, smoke and building fires. Along the trail leading to the scene, a pile of garbage had also obviously been set on fire at some point. The tall grass in and around the trail and scene of the fire was obviously extremely dry and yellowed.
The fire is now being investigated by the RCMP.
10 a.m.
The Sechelt Fire Department quickly responded to a bush fire located between the tent city on Hightide Avenue and a town-home complex on Ebbtide Avenue, at about 9 a.m. this morning, July 23.
Steven Achterberg, deputy fire chief of prevention for the department, said the bushy area has become a popular one for hanging out, smoking and building fires.
More details and photos to come.
