Backyard burning sparks West Vancouver fire

Tinder dry conditions have raised the fire hazard rating for much of southwestern B.C. to high or extreme, sparking a close call in one residential neighbourhood on Vancouver's North Shore.

On Tuesday evening, a West Vancouver man set off a blaze after he decided to try to burn out a stump rather than use a chainsaw that might disturb his neighbours on the 5600 block of Westport Drive near Eagle Harbour, the West Vancouver Fire Department said.

But with the tinder dry conditions, the flames moved quickly through the thick brush in the man's yard, threatening to spread further into the forested neighbourhood.Flames and smoke were quickly spotted by dozens of drivers on the Upper Levels section of Highway 1 who called 911.

It eventually took three fire trucks and 16 firefighters to put out the fire.

Marcia James, a fire prevention officer at the West Vancouver Fire Department, said the homeowner was fined $500 and could be held responsible for several thousand dollars in firefighting costs because he allegedly broke several rules.

"First of all you have to try and get a permit, which is not something that is going to happen at this time of year under these circumstances in the first place," said James.

"Secondly it's incredibly dry. There is a complete ban on outdoor burning, so follow the rules, and obey the law," she said.

Open firerestrictions in place

On Tuesday morning, a fire reignited near Alice Lake Provincial Park outside Squamish after firefighters thought they had extinguished it Monday night. The fire was eventually put out.

There are restrictions in place on open fires for most of B.C., but campfires are still permitted on Crown land and in provincial parks, except in southeastern B.C.

In Metro Vancouver parks, smoking is not permitted and open fires and barbecues are only allowed in supervised campsites.

On Saturday, more than 11,000 people from West Kelowna in B.C.'s southern Interior were forced out of their homes after two fires quickly spread toward residential areas on the western side of Okanagan Lake.

The Glenrosa andRose Valley firesare now 80 per cent contained, but about 3,000 residents still remain out of their homes while fire crews attempt to extinguish the blazes.

About 40 kilometres to the north, a third fire on Terrace Mountain is not threatening any homes, but it has been burning through thousands of hectares of valuable timber, threatening hundreds of jobs at local saw mills. That fire remains only 30 per cent contained.