Weather Indexes
Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 4:40PM The Fire Weather Index (FWI) System consists of six components that account for the effects of fuel moisture and wind on fire behaviour. The first three are moisture codes for the moisture content of forest litter and fine fuels, the loosely compacted organic layers of moderate depth, and the average content of deep, compact organic layers. The last three components represent the rate of fire spread, the fuel available for combustion, and the frontal fire intensity. Thetis Island, through consultation with Coastal Fire, daily averages three reporting stations (North Cowichan, Cedar and Salt Spring 2) to arrive at our fire hazard rating. Moderate Fire Hazard is 3, High is 4 and Extreme is 5. We have been sitting in EXTREME for several weeks, with the addendum that any ignition source can result in explosive fire behaviour and the fire run rates of 30 metres a minute. The recent Maple Mountain fire was a good example of that explosive behaviour and ten fire halls as well as forestry actioned that fire. They were still putting out hot spots a week later.
And now the good (?) news: For two days in a row the FWI for our averaging stations has been rated HIGH Hazard and the forecast is that it will also be HIGH tomorrow. That means that on TUESDAY, Thetis Island will drop to HIGH HAZARD and HIGH RISK ACTIVITIES may commence IN EARLY SHIFT ONLY. This will mean that on Tuesday, you can chainsaw, skid, excavate, mill etc. from DAWN to NOON and you MUST POST A 2 HOUR FIRE WATCH FOLLOWING THE ACTIVITY or until 2 pm. You still must have water for extinguishment on site and available immediately in case a spark causes an ignition, and a means to dial 911 immediately to report the ignition.
There is still an ongoing Province-wide complete ban on outdoor fires and campfires. (Propane BBQs and Campfire Appliances are excluded from that ban.) Provincially we are still in a State of Emergency for wildfires and your abundance of caution and prudence with spark sources is commendable and appreciated.
And to those of you whom have had conversations with visitors you have observed tossing their butts into the dry grass, we all thank you. It only takes one person to raze a community!
TIVFD
