The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has banned open burning in Sea to Sky region, Metro Vancouver and other parts of BC due to COVID-19.
The restrictions will be valid until Wednesday April 15.
The ministry said as COVID-19 cases continue to increase, the BC Centre for Disease Control suggested measures to reduce excess air pollution in the province.
There is strong evidence that air pollution makes people more vulnerable to respiratory viral infections by decreasing immunity. This means that any deterioration in air quality may lead to more COVID-19 infections overall, the ministry said.
Improvements to air quality may help to protect the whole population from COVID-19 and its potentially severe effects, the ministry added.
These restrictions will be evaluated on a daily basis, and may be relaxed.
Meanwhile, District of Squamish is also reminding people that burning of yard waste is not permitted in the district.
Al Price says
This does not apply to normal back yard fires, which are classified as campfires, by both the DOS regulations and the provincial ministry as
“no greater than 0.5 metres in height or diameter, or shall it extend in any way beyond the permitted space, or location. Smoke from the campfire does not create a nuisance to other persons in the vicinity.”
https://squamish.ca/our-services/protective-services/fire-rescue/fire-permits/fire-permit/
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#OpenFire