Delta closes parched parks because of fire danger

DELTA (NEWS 1130) -As Surrey’s fire department warns smokers to be careful with cigarette butts, Delta is taking no chances. The municipality has ordered the closure of four parks until further notice because the fire danger rating has hit “extreme.”

“It’s always difficult to take these major steps but we are really looking to protect people and the parks,” says Delta mayor Lois Jackson.

“The Delta Nature Reserve and Cougar Canyon Nature Reserve along with the Delta Watershed Park are closed, and there is a little area north of Boundary Bay Airport called the North 40 we have also closed,” she tells NEWS 1130. “People love to go there to walks their dogs but it is tinder dry and it’s very close to Burns Bog, which we are very concerned about as well.”

Delta Fire, Delta Police, Delta Park Patrols and by-law staff will be patrolling parks, beaches and Burns Bog access points to ensure no one is violating the closures or the open fire and cooking ban in every other park in the municipality. Anyone caught could face fines up to $200.

“We are hearing stories of people who aren’t being quite so good with their cigarette butts, so please take care,” says Jackson. “Once a small spark gets going, we can have a disastrous mess in a very short time. It’s very dangerous.”

The province has also reiterated its warnings to be extremely careful in our forests and obey all fire bans and evacuation orders.

There are 182 fires burning in BC right now, with almost 22 started yesterday alone. There are nine evacuation orders or alerts, affecting 800 homes across the province.

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