Cooler overnight temperatures have brought the fire danger rating in Ladysmith down from extreme to high.
Marg Drysdale, fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, says lower weekend temperatures, combined with a storm system that swept through the region, have caused the rating to go down from last week’s extreme rating. If the forecasted temperatures for this week keep to the late teens, the trend could continue.
“If we have a prolonged period of cooler weather, the rating will slowly start to go down,” Drysdale said. “How much is completely based on geography and on how much cooler it is.”
The fire danger rating is calculated using a geographic algorithm and several scientific factors, with one being very low, and five being extreme.
At press time Monday afternoon, Ladysmith’s rating sat at four (high).
“It’s based on a number of different aspects of fire science, from the initial spread index to the buildup index to moisture codes,” Drysdale said.
Those numbers are recalculated on a daily basis. Overnight recovery can occur when cooler temperatures are present. Some of the signs are morning dampness in grass or on windshields.
“That may burn off during the day or warm up during the day, but if they have it again the next night, it’s good for fire behaviour,” Drysdale explained. “It will dampen the fire behaviour.”
With the September long weekend approaching, Drysdale said it’s crucial for people to abide by campfire rules and, if permitted, to use them with extreme caution at all times.
“I think people assume that because they’re in a grate, that they’re not going to go anywhere; however, if you get a light wind on it, it might spark up,” she said.
Campfires should be kept to regulation size (a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller) and should be properly extinguished.
“That means water, stirring and actually being able to put your hand into the [extinguished] fire and it be cool to the touch,” Drysdale said. “It’s called cold trailing, and it’s what our crews do on a fire.”
Within the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction, there is currently no campfire ban, but they are asking people to check with their regional districts and municipalities that may have burn bylaws in place.
The Coastal Fire Centre, one of six regional wildland fire centres operated by the B.C. Forest Service’s Wildfire Management Branch, is responsible for more than 12.8 million hectares, including Vancouver Island and the mainland.
Since May, they have had a Category 2 prohibition in place, which specifies no backyard burning, fireworks or burn barrels.
To find out more about the Fire Danger Rating, click here.
To report an unattended campfire or wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or call *5555 from a cell phone.
