Thursday July 30, 2020 ~ SOOKE, BC
by Mary Brooke~ West Shore Voice News
In this dry hot weather, the Fire Danger Rating was elevated to EXTREME on Tuesday July 28 within the District of Sooke, but yesterday and today was dropped back down to HIGH.
A former ban on campfires as posted July 28 has now been dropped, out of consideration for camping activities on the upcoming BC Day long weekend.
Collaborative decision:
“It’s still very dry out there,” says Julie Barlow, Fire Services/Emergency Program Assistant, Sooke Fire Rescue. “But after a meeting with Otter Point Fire Dept, BC Parks and the CRD’s Juan de Fuca Water works department, the campfire ban will be lifted for this weekend,” Barlow said.
Though she added: “Campfires will be banned at some point.” That’s due to the heat and very dry weather that has persisted now for several weeks in the Sooke area and south Vancouver Island region.
“Typically during an EXTREME danger rating we put the campfire ban on,” said Barlow. “We were being super cautious earlier this week.”
Campfires should be contained:
A campfire that is contained in a ring typically does not spread.
Beach fires are more trouble:
By comparison, campfires on beaches are often more of a challenge. First of all, they are never permitted.
And after enjoying the beach fire, people think they’ve extinguished them, but tree roots below the sand can catch on fire from heat below the campfire site, Barlow explained to West Shore Voice News today.
In just the last few days there have been beach fires at Whiffin Spit and Ella Beach. People put sand on them, thinking they’ve taken care of covering it up. But people and animals can step in the smouldering area without realizing it. “The fires burn slowly underneath the sand and then catch,” Barlow explained. D