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Mission reminds public about fire ban in wake of Coquitlam blaze

Conditions are dry and camp fires are still banned
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The Hanavan family and friends enjoy a camp fire. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Thornhill)

The City of Mission is reminding people that campfires are banned within the city limits in the wake of a devastating wildfire in Coquitlam that has choked the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver in smoke.

The Coastal Fire Centre lifted its campfire ban as on Sept. 20, but that doesn’t apply within the city of Mission.

Mission Fire Rescue Services wants to remind residents that there is still a danger rating of “very high,” and the ban has not been lifted in the city.

“While the Coastal Fire Centre has lifted its ban in other areas of the province, the fire ban remains in effect in all areas within Mission as the fire risk level is currently high,” a spokesperson for the fire service told Black Press. “The windy and dry conditions make the wildfire risk too high to lift the ban at this time. This ban includes recreational fire pits.”

Metro Vancouver and BC Wildfire Service crews have been fighting a blaze in Minnekhada Regional Park that covered more than 12 hectares.

RELATED: ‘Reinstate campfire ban,’ Chilliwack storm watcher urges province

With continued dry weather in the forecast, the public are being warned to not light campfires and be careful with cigarette butts.

The ban will be lifted when conditions within Mission are appropriate and does not include propane or natural gas appliances such as barbeques.

The B.C. Wildfire Service is encouraging extreme caution when tending to campfires, and advice residents to check with their local governments such as the City of Mission before lighting any campfire.

For further information, contact Mission Fire Rescue Service at 604-820-3793 or visit www.mission.ca.

- With additional reporting by Jessica Peters, Abbotsford News


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chris.campbell@missioncityrecord.com

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Chris Campbell

About the Author: Chris Campbell

I joined the Victoria News hub as an editor in 2023, bringing with me over 30 years of experience from community newspapers in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
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