IDYLLIC beach and garden party weather means forests are at a greater risk of wildfire, local chiefs are warning.
The warm, dry conditions have pushed Metro Vancouvers fire hazard risk to high from Seymour to Burns Bog.
Weve got high at all stations right now. It shows how quickly we can dry out. We get a few good days of weather and here we are, said Martin Ernst, West Vancouver Fire and Rescue chief.
Residents can help reduce risk by making sure their yards, roofs and gutters are free of debris and branches that can be like kindling to a spark from any source.
And Ernst has a warning for smokers whose habit might be putting more than their own lungs at risk.
I have regularly been ticketing people for throwing cigarette butts out of the windows of their cars because those can end up in bark mulch on the side of the highway and can start grass and brush fires, Ernst said.
Theres also a role for everyone to play in making sure small fires dont become forest fires or home destroying blazes.
Ultimately, its vigilance. Its all about eyes out there. If you notice smoke that doesnt seem like its coming from a barbeque or youre questioning its source, you phone 9-1-1 right away and you get fire services rolling on it, Ernst said.
