Open Burning

It's now November and Thetis Island Fire Dept. Burn Permits are not required until April 1st of next year.  However, many people do not understand the Provincial requirements that are still in place, and that neighbours can contact the CVRD By-Laws Enforcement Officer if the open burning is not compliant.  Neighbours include Saltair, Penelakut, Chemainus, etc. who share our air as well as Thetis Islanders.

Anyone lighting a Category 2 fire (can be no higher than 2 metres nor wider than 3 metres) MUST look at the Venting Index (Google "venting index BC" and find southern Vancouver Island.)

The burning of woody debris outdoors is only permitted when the forecast Ventilation Index is sufficient to disperse smoke. Before debris can be ignited, the Ventilation Index must be predicted to be both GOOD (55-100) this afternoon as well as FAIR or GOOD (34-100) tomorrow afternoon.

If you cannot go on-line for the Index you can phone toll free 1-888-281-2992 for today’s and tomorrow's venting index forecast.

Other Regulations that must be followed are:

The open burning of debris must be carried out at least:

(a) 100 metres from neighbouring residences and businesses, and

(b) 500 metres from schools in session.

Open burning of debris must not be initiated if the local air flow will cause the smoke to have a negative impact on a nearby population or cause pollution

Unless otherwise exempted for smoke management purposes by a burning permit or in a burn plan approved by the Ministry of Forests, open burning of debris must not be initiated if atmospheric mixing at the site where the debris is to be burned is insufficient to provide rapid dispersion of the smoke.

Please don't burn leaves, especially wet leaves.  They are a valuable source for composting into soil on our island and put a lot of smoke up when they could easily be used in the garden. Garbage, tires, lumber from renovations, tarpaper, drywall, old oil, plastic etc. are all banned. 

All fire safety concerns or emergencies should be reported by calling 911 Emergency Services.

Knowing whom to call to report an illegal burn or smoke pollution can be tough, especially when there are so many different rules about burning. CVRD has tried to make the process easier by providing some useful phone numbers to report different types of burns.

To report illegal land-clearing burns:

Anytime – call the BC Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers & Polluters (RAPP) Line at 1-877-952-7277

Monday to Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm – call CVRD Bylaw Enforcement at 250-746-2500 or afterhours Bylaw Enforcement Hotline at 250-746-2600

To report burning of construction debris, garbage or prohibited materials:

Anytime – call the BC Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers & Polluters (RAPP) Line at 1-877-952-7277

To report illegal backyard burns:

For backyard burning in CVRD Electoral Areas, contact CVRD Bylaw Enforcement at 250-746-2500

If you are interested in the hourly air quality on Thetis Island you can Google purpleair.com and access the map of North American air quality test monitors and choose Thetis Island.  The monitor is mounted on the school.

With so much attention being paid to air shed air quality and the spectre of even more restrictive regulations on wood smoke, it will be important for Thetis Islanders to continue to minimize our smoke by following the existing regulations and not give our on and off-Island neighbours cause to report illegal burns or smoke pollution.  Depending on which regulation is contravened, fines to $200,000 to $1 million plus 6 months in jail can be levied under the Environmental Management Act.

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck

TIVFD