Fire Danger Class and Work Restrictions
Industrial / High Risk Activity Restrictions
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.
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Moderate Fire Danger requirements
Extreme Fire Danger requirements
Fire Danger Class Restrictions
High Risk Classification by Activity
"high risk activity" means
(a) mechanical brushing;
(b) disk trenching;
(c) preparation or use of explosives;
(d) using fire- or spark-producing tools, including cutting tools;
(e) using or preparing fireworks or pyrotechnics;
(f) grinding, including rail grinding;
(g) mechanical land clearing;
(h) clearing and maintaining rights of way, including grass mowing;
(i) any of the following activities carried out in a cutblock excluding a road, landing,
roadside work area or log sort area in the cutblock:
(i) operating a power saw;
(ii) mechanical tree felling, woody debris piling or tree processing, including de-limbing;
(iii) welding;
(iv) portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing;
(v) skidding logs or log forwarding unless it is improbable that the skidding or
forwarding will result in the equipment contacting rock;
(vi) yarding logs using cable systems.
(j) to (q) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2008, s. 1 (b).]
High risk activities
Section 6
(1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2008, s. 3 (a).]
(2) A person who carries out a high risk activity on or within 300 m of forest land or grass
land on or after March 1 and before November 1, unless the area is snow covered, must
determine the Fire Danger Class for the location of the activity
(a) by reference to representative weather data for the area,
(b) by reference to
(i) the Danger Region from Schedule 1,
(ii) the applicable numerical rating under the Buildup Index, and
(iii) the applicable numerical rating under the Fire Weather Index, and
(c) by cross-referencing the Buildup Index with the Fire Weather Index, for the applicable
Danger Region, under Schedule 2.
(3) If there is a risk of a fire starting or spreading, a person carrying out a high risk activity
on or within 300 m of forest land or grass land must
(a) do so in accordance with the applicable restriction and duration set out in Schedule 3
for the Fire Danger Class, and
(b) keep at the activity site
(i) fire fighting hand tools, in a combination and type to properly equip each person
who works at the site with a minimum of one fire fighting hand tool, and
(ii) an adequate fire suppression system.
(4) A person who, in accordance with subsection (3) (a) and Schedule 3, is required to
maintain a fire watcher, must ensure that the fire watcher
(a) can reasonably see the site of the high risk activity during the time the fire watcher is
required,
(b) has at least one fire fighting hand tool,
(c) actively watches and patrols for sparks and fires on the site of the high risk activity,
(d) immediately carries out fire control and extinguishes the fire, if practicable, and
(e) has the means on site to report the fire.
[en. B.C. Reg. 75/2006, s. 2; am. B.C. Reg. 213/2008, s. 3.]
Each of the following activities is included in the definition of "industrial activity" in section 1 of the Act:
(a) high risk activities;
(b) operating equipment or machinery in relation to forest management during
(i) road construction, road maintenance and road deactivation,
(ii) timber harvesting, including sorting logs,
(iii) mechanical modification of forest debris and debris piling,
(iv) silviculture treatments, or
(v) portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing;
(c) operating equipment or machinery in relation to activities other than forest management
during
(i) debris piling,
(ii) road construction, road maintenance or road deactivation,
(iii) rock drilling,
(iv) mining operations,
(v) railway operations,
(vi) utility transmission operations, or
(vii) portable wood chipping, milling, processing or manufacturing.
(d) to (m) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 213/2008, s. 1 (c).]
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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.
No one should be performing any High Risk activities or Industrial activities within 300m of forest or grasslands while the fire danger is Extreme.
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:
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Watch for sparks and fires
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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
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Assist in Fighting any fire that occurs in the area being watched by the Fire Watcher
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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.
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A person carrying out an industrial activity must ensure that a fire watcher has access to the following:
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One round-nosed shovel
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One Pulaski tool or mattock
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One hand-tank pump containing at least 18 liters of water
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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.
Please use caution with High Risk Activities during this period of Moderate Fire Risk;
please read HIGH precautions below
WHEN THE FIRE RISK IS HIGH
... have work & chores completed before 1 p.m.
When the fire risk is "HIGH", high risk 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 be ceased...
...except with the written permission of the Fire Chief
Why must high risk & industrial activity be ceased?
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. The person carrying out the industrial activity must determine the risk classification applicable to the work activities intended to be carried out each day, prior to commencing the activity.
FOREST FIRE RISK CLASSIFICATION
1. The activities of industrial operations have the risk classifications assigned to them in Table 1 below.
2. If an industrial operation includes more than one component activity, each activity is subject to this regulation.
3. An activity not specifically listed in Table 1 is deemed to be risk classification A.
Table 1 - Risk Classification by Activity - Mayne Island Fire Rescue definitions
Risk Classification A (High)
NOT permitted after 1 pm each day during HIGH Fire Danger
Risk Classification B (Moderate)
Work permitted during HIGH Fire Danger use caution or cease by 1 pm
Blasting
Bucking - power saw
Bucking - tree processor
Excavating, Trenching
Land clearing
Log barking
Log skidding - ground system
Log yarding - cable logging
Metal cutting, grinding or welding
Rail grinding
Right of way clearing or maintenance
Road construction or maintenance
Road right of way grass mowing
Sawmilling
Silviculture - using small engines
Silviculture - using large engines
Trail building - using small engines
Tree felling
Wood chipping
Wood processing
A Fire Watch must occur at all times during work and last at least one hour following completion of work.
the person carrying out the industrial High Risk Activity must ensure that the following fire fighting tools are kept at the worksite:
(a) one round-nosed shovel or pulaski tool;
(b) one hand-tank pump containing at least 18 litres of water;
(c) one fire extinguisher with a ULC rating of at least 3A 10BC;
(d) one working telephone able to connect to the telephone exchange.
Bucking - (at landing)
Equipment transportation
Firewood splitting - (at landing)
Grass Trimming
Log forwarding
Yard Mowing
A Fire Watch must occur at all times during work and last at least one hour following completion of work.
the person carrying out the industrial activity must ensure that the following fire fighting tools are kept at the worksite:
(a) one round-nosed shovel or pulaski tool;
(b) one hand-tank pump containing at least 18 litres of water;
(c) one fire extinguisher with a ULC rating of at least 3A 10BC;
(d) one working telephone able to connect to the telephone exchange.
NOT PERMITED:
Blasting
Bucking - power saw
Bucking - tree processor
Excavating, Trenching
Land clearing
Log barking
Log forwarding
Log skidding - ground system
Log yarding - cable logging
Metal cutting, grinding or welding
Rail grinding
Right of way clearing or maintenance
Road construction or maintenance
Road right of way grass mowing
Sawmilling
Silviculture - using small engines
Silviculture - using large engines
Trail building - using small engines
Tree felling
Wood chipping
Wood processing
NO LATER THAN 1PM EACH DAY
(AFTER 2 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF EXTREME
FIRE DANGER, CEASE ACTIVITY ALL DAY.)
Equipment transportation
Bucking - (at landing)
Firewood splitting - (at landing)
Grass Trimming
Yard Mowing
A Fire Watch must occur at all times during work and last at least one hour following completion of work.
The person carrying out the industrial activity must ensure that the following fire fighting tools are kept at the worksite:
(a) one round-nosed shovel or pulaski tool;
(b) one hand-tank pump containing at least 18 litres of water;
(c) one fire extinguisher with a ULC rating of at least 3A 10BC;
(d) a working telephone able to connect to the telephone exchange AND must know the civic address of their physical location.
Risk Classification A (High)
NOT PERMITED during periods of EXTREME Fire Danger ratings:
The Wildfire Act
When the threat of forest fire is high to extreme, the Wildfire Act & Wildfire Regulation 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.
Forest Practices Code of BC Act
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.
Restriction
After 3 consecutive days of DGR III or greater, maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of one hour...
Maintain a fire watcher after work for a minimum of 1 hour...
After 3 consecutive days of DGR IV, cease activity between 1 p.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Saving Time) and sunset each day...
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 1hour...
After 2 consecutive days of DGR V, cease activity all day...
Fire Danger Class (DGR)
III
(moderate)
IV
(high)
V
(extreme)
Duration
Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR III
Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR III
Until after the fire danger class falls to DGR III for 2 consecutive days, or falls below DGR III
Until after the fire danger class falls below DGR IV for 2 or more consecutive days
Until after the danger class falls below DGR V for 3 or more consecutive days, or falls below DGR IV
Risk Classification B (Moderate)
Work permitted by property owners during periods of EXTREME Fire Danger MUST cease by 1 pm with a fire watcher for at least one hour. After 2 consecutive days of EXTREME Fire Danger, cease activity all day.
