Vancouver Park Board encourages fire safety during hot summer
Posted July 7, 2017 4:36 pm.
Last Updated July 7, 2017 5:14 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – As wildfires burn across the province and summer continues to heat up, the Vancouver Park Board is reminding people to be safe in city parks as well and be aware there are consequences to unsafe actions.
Vancouver’s fire hazard level is currently at moderate, but could soon be raised to extreme, according to the board.
Smoking has been banned from all city parks for the last three years, while campfires are also banned in parks and on beaches.
“Smoking is banned in parks and beaches, use safe procedures when barbequing, and rangers are out enforcing these fire hazard regulations,” says Chad Cowles, park board superintendent of city-wide services.
Cowles says barbeques should be at least 30 centimetres off any grass and preferably on a picnic table with cement pad beneath it. Once the hazard level reaches extreme, there will be a coal barbeque ban, while propane will still be allowed.
The fine for smoking in a park is $250 for an individual, but commercial operators could face fines of $500 for allowing someone to smoke in a park while campfire fines range from $50 to $2,000 depending on the size.
