The Reason Behind The Restrictions

Many islanders do not understand the reasons behind the Smoke Control/Venting Index for outdoor burn piles.  The Smoke control venting index has nothing to do with how wet or dry the forest is.  It has everything to do with how much smoke particulate you and your neighbours would be breathing.  The daily Smoke Control Forecast contains predictions of the Ventilation Index, a measure of atmospheric turbulence and low level winds.  Open burning is the largest source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in BC. Fine particulates released into the air can impact health and contribute to poor air quality in communities.  

If you decide to ignore the Provincial regulations and light your burn pile on a day that smoke will stay low to the ground and not mix at the correct height, you are putting yourself and community at risk for both short and long term respiratory problems.  There are several residents now on Thetis, including children, that already suffer from very serious respiratory disease and absolutely need your cooperation with the regulations.

Please check the Venting Index daily (after the daily 7:30 am update) before you light up your yard waste pile.  Your neighbours need you to understand that your burn pile smoke is dangerous to health and needs to meet the venting index standard for mixing height etc.  Smoke particles will not dissipate readily if the Index is POOR or FAIR.  Generally, even on a GOOD atmospheric ventilation day, after sunset the Index drops to POOR.  (This is why burn piles must be extinguished by evening.)  There is a link to an interactive map of the daily Venting Index on the TIVFD website or just Google “Venting Index”.  

Thank you,

Thetis Island Fire Dept.