
Wildfire hazard rating
​
Gabriola’s current wildfire hazard rating (low, moderate, high, or extreme) is posted in the above site banner. There are also signs around the island: in front of the Gabriola Post Office, on Taylor Bay Road near North Road, and in front of each of our fire halls.
​
These are the fire hazard ratings we use:
Low
-
Normal operations are permitted.
-
See the low wildfire hazard status page for more details.
Moderate
-
Normal operations are permitted, but use extra caution as some areas may dry out more then others.
-
See the moderate hazard status page for more details.
High
Unless ‘no fire’ signs are up the following applies-
-
Burning permits are no longer issued.
-
Burn barrels and non-permit fires (small campfires less than 1/2 cubic metre) are still allowed.
-
See the high hazard status page for more details.
High with Early Shift
-
Burning permits are no longer issued.
-
Open burning is not permitted. So campfires other small fires are not allowed.
-
Burn barrels and non-permit fires (small campfires) are not allowed.
-
Some activities are limited to early shift: there is a 1:00 p.m. stopping time for many private and industrial operations, including all powered equipment such as chainsaws, lawnmowers, weed eaters, chippers, etc.
-
Generally 4 days of High rating will put Gabriola into High early shift.
-
See the high with early shift hazard status page for more details.
Extreme
-
All open burning is banned.
-
You cannot operate any powered equipment at any time.
-
We are in shutdown mode. This means that many industrial operations, such as logging, are suspended.
-
A watchman is required: you must have a person at the work site for 2 hour after work has stopped as a precaution against fire. The watchman must have quick access to a telephone in case of an emergency.
-
See the extreme hazard status page for more details.
​Gabriola's Volunteer Fire Department references the Provincial Wild fire Danger Class Model to set our Wildfire Classification during fire season: it can be viewed here. We use Cedar as the nearest reference point to set the Danger classification status.
​
Please see Gabriola’s Burning Regulations for more details on what you may and may not burn.
​
​