The Danger Class values are LOW...please continue to use caution and good sense while conducting work.Equipment use restrictions are NOT in effect...
CALL 911 for all emergencies
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| Early Shift requirements |
 Fire Danger Ratings and Restrictions explained: click to view and print our Fire Danger Handout. |
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| fire watcher requirements | ||
| Moderate Fire Danger requirements | ||
| High Fire Danger requirements | ||
| Extreme Fire Danger requirements | ||
| The Wildfire Act | ||
Q: What does a HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES and EXTREME or HIGH forest fire danger notice mean to me?
A: It means that anyone engaged in a HIGH RISK ACTIVITY or an INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, must abide by the Wildfire Act and Wildfire Regulation of BC. Please read the information provided here to better understand the risks and your responsilities.
High Risk Classification by Activity
No one should be performing any High Risk activities or Industrial activities within 300m of forest or grasslands while the fire danger is Extreme.
- "High risk
activity" means each of the following:
mechanical brushing, disk trenching, preparation or
use of explosives, using fire- or spark- producing
tools including cutting tools, using or preparing
fireworks or pyrotechnics, grinding, mechanical land
clearing, log forwarding other than by logging truck
on a road, skidding logs, yarding logs using cable
systems, using a vehicle with metal tracks, chains
or studs, operating a power saw, clearing or
maintaining right of ways, including grass mowing,
rock drilling, tree processing including de-limbing,
welding, portable wood chipping, milling, processing
or manufacturing.
- Note: Spark producing tools includes lawn mowers with metal blades, gas weed-eaters, and other small motors that may produce sparks near grass or forests.
- "Industrial activity" means
activities that include debris piling, mechanical
modification of forest debris, railway operations,
utility transmission operations, mining operations,
silviculture treatments as defined under section
1(1) of the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation
of B.C. Reg. 14/2004, wood milling, processing and
manufacturing, timber harvesting, road construction,
road maintenance or road deactivation, yarding logs
using helicopters or lighter than air vehicles,
operating power saw, loading logs or use of
machinery on a road or a landing or in a log sort
area.
- Note: Road construction and mechanical modification of forest fuels includes the use of rubber tired machines and excavators to build driveways and/or move branches, duff or trees within 300 meters of the forest.
For general inquiries or complaints call Mayne Island Fire/Rescue 250 539-5156
To report a smoke or fire sighting call 911
Fire Watcher Information
As Described in the Forest Fire Prevention And Suppression Regulations.
If a fire watcher is required to be present by this regulation the fire watcher must:
- Watch for sparks and fires
- Report any fires to a designated forest official, a peace officer or the person carrying out the industrial activity at the worksite at which the fire watcher is engaged, and
- Assist in Fighting any fire that occurs in the area being watched by the Fire Watcher
- If the Fire Watcher reports a fire to a person carrying out an industrial activity, the person must immediately report the forest fire to a regional manager, district manager, a designated forest official, peace officer or person answering a forest fire reporting number.
- A person carrying out an industrial activity must ensure that a fire watcher has access to the following:
- One round-nosed shovel
- One Pulaski tool or mattock
- One hand-tank pump containing at least 18 liters of water
- A radio or telephone that can be used to report a fire and request assistance.
WHEN THE FIRE RISK IS
| MODERATE |
All outdoor activities must be conducted with caution.
In the fall, winter and spring there may be activity restrictions including:
After three consecutive days of "Moderate" fire threat, maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of one hour. Continue this until after the fire danger threat falls to "Low".
WHEN THE FIRE RISK IS
| HIGH |
... do work & chores before 1 p.m.
When the fire risk is high activities that may start a fire must be completed before 1 p.m. each day. You should think about the sparks from exhaust, sparks from blades hitting rocks or other metal, friction and other sources of heat. You must have water available and ready, should a fire start. If you need to work with these tools use them in the mornings when the relative humidity and fuel moisture is highest and temperatures are cooler. You must stay on site and watch the area for smoke for two hours after you finish your work. If you do this, and have some water on hand you will not likely start a large fire.
Why 1 p.m.?
The reason for 1 p.m. is simple: If a fire does start there is a much higher chance that it can be contained before dark if it is reported early in the day. Fires will grow in size after dark. It is extremely dangerous and sometimes impossible to fight fires in dense smoke and darkness. Water bombers and helicopters must return to base one hour before sunset. If it is windy a small fire could grow to involve most of Mayne Island between sunset and dawn. We must have the time to contain fires in daylight or we may all be looking for another place to live.
WHEN THE FIRE RISK IS
| EXTREME |
all high risk/industrial activity must cease except with the written permission of the Fire Chief
In EXTREME fire risk conditions fires will start very easily and spread very quickly. During these conditions it is simply too risky to take unnecessary chances.
Balancing fire risk safety with economic consequences
The Fire Department wants to ensure that the impacts on jobs and projects are minimized.
MAYNE ISLAND FIRE RESCUE has authority under the Acts and Regulations to issue exemptions from restrictions or closures providing there is a clear need to complete the work and fire safety plans and measures are implemented to mitigate the fire risks. Exemptions may be obtained from Fire Hall.
The Wildfire Act
When the threat of forest fire is high to extreme, the Wildfire Act places restrictions on a range of activities within 300 metres of forest land or grass land. These activities are wide ranging and include using chain saws, wood chipping and grass mowing.
Restrictions are set out according to the level of the fire risk and the duration of the risk.
Persons responsible for starting wildfires can be held responsible for all fire fighting costs ($1.2 million on Galiano Island in 2006) and are subject to fines up to $1 million dollars or to imprisonment of up to three years or both. Do the math and make sure you understand your responsibilities.
Forest Fire Prevention & Suppression Regulation of the Forest Practices Code of BC Act
Contractors and other persons working on the land base are also subject to the forest fire prevention provisions of the Forest Practices Code.
To review your obligations under this Act, click here.
Together we can have a safe and fire-free summer - but it requires the cooperation of every single person on these islands
The Mayne Island Fire Rescue endorses the Provincial "FireSmart" program which is designed to reduce the risks and consequences of a wildfire. Find more information about the "FireSmart" program here
Early Shift
| Fire Danger Class (DGR) | Restriction | Duration |
| III (moderate) |
After 3 consecutive days of DGR III or greater, maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of one hour | Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR III |
| IV (high) |
Maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of 2 hours | Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR III |
| After 3 consecutive days of DGR IV, cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Saving Time) and sunset each day | Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR III for 2 consecutive days, or falls below DGR III | |
| V (extreme) |
Cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Saving Time) and sunset each day and maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of 2 hours | Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR IV for 2 or more consecutive days |
| After 3 consecutive days of DGR V, cease activity all day | Until after the danger class falls below DGR V for 3 or more consecutive days, or falls below DGR IV | |
many thanks to Pender Island Fire Rescue for their assistance writing this page.