The Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibition will be lifted in the Coastal Fire Centre starting at 12:00 noon, Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
This means that all open burning will once again be permitted within the Otter Point Fire District—Burn permits are required till Oct 31, 2024. Contact the Fire Hall for a Permit. 250-642-6211
Click the link below to read the CRD Fire Regulation Bylaw N0.2, 2022
Fire Regulation Bylaw No. 2, 2022
No Open Burning (except beach and campfires as defined below) shall take place during the months of
June, July, August and September.
No fires of any kind (including incinerator, beach and campfires)
are allowed during Extreme Fire Hazard periods.
Fire season is from April 1 to October 31.
The season may be extended at the discretion of the Fire Chief. Category 2 Fires (formerly Class B) and Category 3 Fires (formerly Class A) require a permit from the fire department.
When Are Permits Required?
April 1st to May 31st – Burning OK – permits required
June 1st to September 30th – NO Burning at all
October 1st to October 31st – Burning OK – permits required
November 1st to April 1st – Burning OK – no permits required
GENERAL REGULATIONS ON OPEN FIRES
4.4 A person must not ignite, burn or continue to burn an Open Fire except in accordance with this Bylaw,
the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, and the Wildfire Act and Regulation. Where a provision of any such enactments is stricter than that of another, the stricter provision applies.
4.5 a) No person shall ignite, burn or continue to burn an Open Fire of any kind while a prohibition on Open Fires or the category of Open Fire ordered by the Province or by the Fire Chief or other Officer of the Fire Department for the Service Area is in effect.
b) No person shall ignite, burn or continue to burn an Open Fire without a valid and continuing permit issued by the Fire Chief or the Fire Chief’s Designate.
c) A person must comply with the terms of any permit and any direction by the Fire Chief written on or further to the permit, or any further restriction on the fire imposed under section 7 of this Bylaw.
d) If a permit is cancelled, expires, or is not complied with, a person must not ignite, burn, or continue to burn an Open Fire and must extinguish such Open Fire forth with.
e) Prior to igniting an Open Fire, undertaking an Industrial Activity, using a Solid Fuel Appliance or igniting a fire in an Incinerator, the person must determine whether there are any restrictions or prohibitions issued under section 7 of this Bylaw.
Category 1 Campfires
Setbacks
• At least 7.5 metres from any building, structure, fence or property line.
• At least 3 metres from any trees, shrubs, structures and debris.
Campfires
• Never ignite a campfire if a campfire ban is in place.
• Avoid having a campfire when it’s windy.
• Keep at least eight litres of water and a hand tool nearby while your campfire is lit.
• Have a fuel break around your campfire. This area must be cleared of debris and anything combustible. It needs to be wide enough to stop the spread of the fire.
• Never leave a campfire unattended for ANY amount of time.
• Before you leave the area, your campfire must be fully extinguished and cool to the touch.
• Never use a campfire for the disposal of domestic waste or prohibited materials.
All beach and campfires must be contained by a suitable receptacle made of fireproof materials (such as rocks or metal) that completely surround the fire.
Fires are to be continuously controlled and supervised by a competent person until the fire is completely extinguished.
Category 2 Fires:
Burning debris smaller than 2 meters high by 3 meters wide
Open Burn Smoke Control Regulations (OBSCR)
The Provincial Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation (OBSCR), are to be followed, where applicable.
Otter Point District has been designated by the Province of BC as a
High Smoke Sensitivity Zone. click the link to get more information on the Smoke Sensitivity Zones.
• If required, follow the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, including the Venting Index for Southern Vancouver Island and the Information Fact Sheet for All Open Burners.
• If all the vegetative debris is under 3 cm in diameter, an operator is exempt from the OBSCR.
• If all vegetative debris is between 3 cm and 10 cm in diameter, the operator is exempt from
most sections of the OBSCR with the following conditions:
• The collected debris is from within 5 km of the burn site and there are no burn bans.
Setbacks
• At least 10 metres from any building, structure, fence, tree or hedge, or property line.
Fire
• Obtain a permit from the Otter Point Fire Department when required.
• Ensure that every reasonable alternative for reducing, reusing or recycling the vegetative debris is used to minimize the amount being burned.
• Do not burn green debris or leaves.
• Do not use an open fire for the disposal of domestic waste or prohibited materials.
• Never leave an open fire unattended.
• Never ignite a category 2 fire if a ban has been established.
No person shall add additional materials to a fire within 2 hours of sunset of each day of the fire.
Category 3 Fires
Any fire larger than Category 2 (2m High x 3m wide)
Regulations
• A permit for a Category 3 fire is always required.
Check local bans before lighting an open fire.”
Setbacks
• The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation prescribes setbacks for Category 3 Fires.
Otter Point District has been designated by the Province of BC as a High Smoke Sensitivity Zone. This designation requires a 500m setback from any residences or businesses.
• In the unlikely event where there is an exemption to the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. The minimum setbacks are 15 metres from any building, structure, fence, tree or hedge.
Fire Operators
• Obtain a permit from the Otter Point Fire Department.
• Obtain a Burn Registration Number from the BC Wildfire Service 1-888-797-1717.
• Ensure that every reasonable alternative for reducing, reusing or recycling the vegetative
debris is used to minimize the amount of the vegetative debris to be open burned.
• Follow the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, including the Venting Index for Southern
Vancouver Island and the Information Fact Sheet for All Open Burners.
• Avoid conducting an open fire when it’s windy.
• Do not burn green debris or leaves.
• Do not use an open fire for the disposal of domestic waste or prohibited materials.
• Never leave an open fire unattended.
• Never ignite a Category 3 fire if a prohibition has been established.
Incinerators (Burn Barrels)
Incinerators with a proper screen do not require a permit. Incinerators can be used all year round except during Extreme Fire Hazard periods.
The owner of any incinerator shall:
- maintain the incinerator in a condition that provides for the proper combustion of any material burned;
- ensure that any burning is supervised and that any equipment necessary for fire control is available;
- ensure that the domestic incinerator is located at least:
- (i) 1.5 meters from any grass, shrubbery or wooden fence; and
- (ii) 7.6 meters from any building;
- ensure that the commercial or industrial incinerator is located at least:
- (i) 3 meters from any grass, shrubbery or wooden fence; and
- (ii) 10 meters from any building
Prohibited Materials
Never burn garbage or construction debris. It is illegal unless specifically authorized as it releases toxic chemicals in the air. Effects of these toxins include cancer, lowered immunity, disorders of the nervous system, and interfere with childhood development. Reduce waste and recycle instead.
CRD Fire Regulation No.2, 2022 specifically prohibits the burning or incineration of the
following materials:
• Rubber, tires, plastic materials, or polystyrene foam
• Fibreglass or other fibre-reinforced materials
• Asphalt or asphalt products or tar paper
• Construction materials, drywall or demolition waste
• Carpets, furniture, appliances or domestic waste
• Railway ties
• Treated lumber or wood products
• Manure, animal carcasses or waste from animal slaughtering
• Paint, varnish, used oil, or fuel or lubricant containers
• Batteries or electrical wire
• Biomedical or other hazardous waste