The Maple Ridge Fire Department has expanded the city-wide fire ban to include all open burning, including campfires, to help reduce wildfire risk and for public safety.
The ban is effective noon, Wednesday, July 10, and will be in place until lifted by the Fire Department. A province-wide campfire ban will come into effect on July 12 at noon, as the wildfare danger is rated high or extreme across most of the province.
“We thank all residents and visitors for doing their part by following the fire ban as the safety of our community and our natural surroundings depend on our collective efforts,” said Dave Samson, Interim Fire Chief. “We greatly appreciate your cooperation at this time.”
The previous local fire ban issued on May 14 applied to category 2 and 3 open fires, and has been updated to include campfires that are half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller. Fireworks, sky lanterns, binary explosive targets, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description, and air curtain burners continue to be banned.
Any person found contravening the fire ban will be fined up to $1150. Call 9-1-1 to report any signs of fire.
This ban does not apply to using ULC-rated or CSA-rated barbecues, camping-type stoves, or portable campfire apparatus using gas, propane, or briquettes on private property.
For more summer fire safety information and resources, visit MapleRidge.ca/Wildfire. For more information on the provincial fire ban visit gov.bc.ca/Fireban
