Venting Index
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at 7:08AM NOTE: located the right side of this page for easy access.
As you know, even burn permits for yard waste have their limits - size, placement, and water at hand to extinguish it, AND we can't burn during a "poor" or even "fair" venting index. To make it as easy as possible to check what the venting index is for our zone (Southern Vancouver Island), Chief Caldbeck discovered a widget that you can check quickly. It's now on the TIVFD website, at
https://www.thetisislandfire.ca/burning-regulations.html#venting
There's also a link on the left side navigation panel all through the site.
Just as a reminder, here's the reason we need to follow this (from the Burning Regulations page), even during the months when permits aren't required:
“In brief, you are looking for two "good" venting days in a row for a substantial fire, or at least a "good" followed by a "fair". It is illegal to burn in poor venting conditions, as this creates a significant health hazard not only for you, but your neighbours and general area...”
Some people are ignoring the Provincial Regulations and are igniting their yard waste fires on "NO" days of POOR or FAIR Venting for this area. Not only does this cause local smoke pollution of your neighbours, but others on Vancouver Island can also see the smoke and will check the Venting Index, and then complain to the CVRD about airshed pollution. We are trying very hard to not lose our ability to have outdoor burning on Thetis Island while the rest of the CVRD is under severely restricted regulations for backyard burns. If everyone here burns responsibly by following the Smoke Control Regulations we may avoid losing outdoor burning altogether."
TIVFD
