The Saanich fire department has extended the ban on outdoor burning until at least Oct. 29 due to unseasonably warm weather.
Open-air burning is permitted in rural areas of Saanich. The fire department had planned to lift the ban on Oct. 16.
“Even though we are forecast to have cooler temperatures and precipitation this weekend, it is not expected to be significant enough to change the current fire danger rating indices,” Capt. Jerry Tomljenovic, Saanich’s pre-fire planning and public education officer, said in a release. “This ban has been put in place as a preventative measure to reduce the likelihood of grass or brush fires.”
Tomljenovic said the burn ban could be extended past Oct. 29 if weather conditions continue to be too dry, which could quash Halloween fireworks displays.
People who want to shoot fireworks still need to take a mandatory safety workshop and obtain a permit from the fire department, although those permits won’t be valid if the burn ban remains in place.
The fireworks workshops are scheduled for: Oct. 17 and 22, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and Oct. 24 and 28, 10 to 11 a.m., at the Saanich fire department, 760 Vernon Ave.
Register by emailing fireprevention@saanich.ca or call 250-475-5500. The workshop is necessary to apply for a fireworks permit for Halloween, Oct. 31.
See www.saanich.ca/services/safety/prevention.html.
editor@saanichnews.com