Authorities may delay fire permits on North Shore

The District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and West Vancouver Fire & Rescue may delay fire permits in order to protect the safety of our trees, properties and residents.

The fire chiefs from District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, North Vancouver City Fire Department, and West Vancouver Fire & Rescue want to remind residents of the North Shore that due to the lack of rain and warmer than average temperatures, the fire risk is still high and the fire danger rating is elevated.

The forests are extremely dry and can ignite very easily, as seen today with West Van Fire and BC Wildfire Service responding to the Eagle Ridge fire. With Halloween coming up at the end of the month, the fireworks permitting process would typically begin on October 24.

If, however, the fire danger rating remains ‘high’ at that time, the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and West Vancouver Fire & Rescue may make the decision not to authorize any permits in order to protect the safety of our trees, properties and residents. The City of North Vancouver has a ban on the sale, purchase, possession or discharge of fireworks of any kind.

“We also want to remind residents that fireworks, open flames, and smoking are all strictly prohibited in parks and forested areas at all times,” says fire services.

“Keeping our communities safe is our number one priority, especially given the large areas of forest that border many homes on the North Shore. We’ve seen how fast wildfires can spread in other urban areas and the North Shore is extremely vulnerable.”