Golden Ears Provincial Park staff are reminding campers to make sure their campfires are out after a burning ember led to the destruction of a parks truck and nearly sparked a forest fire.
A park ranger was transporting campfire ash in a metal container in the back of a pickup truck Friday afternoon after cleaning out firepits in the park’s campground.
Park manager Stu Burgess said a still-burning ember must have been hidden amongst the ashes in the back of the truck and reignited as the ranger was driving.
“The ember was likely stoked by the wind in the back of the truck and reignited the ash it was sitting in,” he said.
Fire quickly consumed the truck, blowing out the rear window before destroying the truck completely.
The fire soon spread to the nearby forest, catching several trees and scorching bushes.
However, the Maple Ridge Fire Department arrived and were able to prevent the fire from spreading further.
“The firefighters got there just in time,” said Burgess.
Burgess said it’s important for campers to make sure their campfire is out as embers can reignite in the fire pit, as well as in a garbage bin, and even start fires underground.