Gabriola’s High with early shift wildfire hazard status

When Gabriola’s fire status has been listed as High for 4 days and no significant rain has fallen we move into High With Early Shift.

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Gabriolans must be very cautious as forest fuels  will be very dry and may easily ignite and fire can spread very rapidly. 

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For more information please visit the provincial fire danger website.

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Activities that are permitted

When our wildfire hazard rating is High Early Shift:​

• The use of powered equipment (gas, diesel or electric) is allowed, but only before 1pm. This includes chainsaws, lawnmowers, weed eaters, chippers, etc.

• Industrial operations, such as logging, are permitted but only before 1pm.

• A watchperson is required: you must have a person at the work site for 1 hour after work has stopped as a precaution against fire. The watchperson should survey the area where work was being performed and look for any signs of fire in the incipient stages and must have quick access to a telephone in case of an emergency.

• Electric string trimmers (weed eaters) with plastic string that contain no metal: is permitted. After the equipment has been used a watchperson must survey the area for a hour, a water supply must be on site for emergencies, and they must have access to a telephone in case of an emergency.

• Barbecues are allowed.

• Propane fireplaces are allowed. Flames must be 6 inches or less.

• Hibachis and similar charcoal-burning stoves are allowed.

• Safely used and located carpentry tools are not included in the prohibition.

Activities that are not permitted

When our wildfire hazard rating is High Early Shift:​

• Open burning of any sort is not permitted and Burn Permits are no longer issued.

• The use of powered equipment (gas, diesel or electric) after 1pm is not permitted. This includes chainsaws, lawnmowers, weed eaters, chippers, etc.

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