Nanaimo Fire Rescue has been called out to steadily more bush fires recently as tinder-dry grass by city streets is ripe for instant ignition. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

BUTT OUT

Cigarettes largely responsible for rise in grass fires throughout Nanaimo

Jul 12, 2021 | 5:37 AM

NANAIMO — An entirely preventable situation has seen a steady rise in bush fire callouts for local fire crews.

Cigarettes have been labelled a primary cause of multiple fires along the side of roads or in bush land adjacent over the last few weeks. Since June 20, crews attended 33 bush fire calls including five in one day on July 7.

Troy Libbus, assistant chief with Nanaimo Fire Rescue, told NanaimoNewsNOW the season started early with little rain through the spring and a record-breaking heat wave.

“The early, dry conditions has made everything very sensitive and everything can spread quite rapidly once they get going. Nanaimo Fire Rescue does their best to be there within six minutes of a call but fires can double and triple in size fairly quickly this time of year.”

Libbus said if you’re going to smoke, discard your butt in an ashtray or in a water-filled can on your property but away from your home.

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Extensive fire bans are in place for the entire province, prohibiting the use of just about anything that makes a spark.

“We have extreme high heat and wind conditions, please do not have any fires in any parks,” Libbus said. “Follow the B.C. and City of Nanaimo regulations, we have a complete burning ban on right now except for your barbeque and some CSA approved devices.”

All backyard burning is also currently prohibited.

Libbus didn’t say how many of the recent call outs were related to cooking fires in homeless encampments.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley