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Registered burn on RDN CVRD border sparked concerns among Yellow Point residents

High winds carried embers through nearby properties, causing residents to alert the fire departments
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One of the slash piles that was burned (Submitted photo)

A category 3 slash pile burn had residents of Yellow Point concerned last week.

The burn took place over two days, November 27, and 28. It occurred on a 60 acre Yellow Point property on the border of the RDN and CVRD. The property had recently been logged, and the fires were lit to clear remaining brush. A third party contractor conducted the burn. Licenses were obtained from the provincial government to conduct the burns.

High winds carried embers through nearby properties, causing residents to alert the local fire departments.

The North Cedar Fire Department, (NCFD) investigated the site and referred the matter to the Coastal Fire Centre. NCFD fire chief Percy Tipping said he believes the contractors were trying to operate within open fire regulations. He noted that new open smoke control regulations have been in place since September, and the contractors may not have been aware of the new regulations.

“It appeared to me in speaking with the contractors on site that there was no malicious intent. This was planned out, and they did had permits in place. The only question that arose was whether the burn piles met the new requirements as defined in the open smoke control regulations,” Tipping said.

North Oyster Fire Department, (NOFD) was called to patrol the area in case any spot fires broke out. NOFD did put out a small spot fire within the RDN boundary. NOFD was able to better access the spot by using Long Lake road.

“Nothing got out of control,” NOFD fire chief Florian Schulz said. “There were no fires in our district at all. Smoke was blowing in our direction, but that was it.”

The provincial government operates an online map called the OFTS Registered Burns and Prescribed Fire Map. Residents seeking information about registered burns in their area can view all provincially registered fires online using that resource.





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