The backyard fire that went out of control and burned through six acres of forest in Halfmoon Bay last week did not have a permit and remains under investigation.
“There was no permit issued for the fire. The file is still under review, so I can’t comment on specifics related to penalties,” wrote Angie Legault, acting CAO for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) in an email.
About eight homes were evacuated and another 50 were put on alert after emergency services were called April 30 after a “controlled burn got out of control,” according to RCMP spokesperson Karen Whitby. Halfmoon Bay and Sechelt fire departments were assisted by BC Wildfire Service, which sent two helicopters, a response officer and a three-person initial attack crew.
The fire was extinguished that evening, after 8 p.m., and BC Forestry crews returned to monitor the site for hot spots the next day.
The site of the fire, northwest of Brooks and Walker roads near Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park, is in SCRD jurisdiction in Area B.
Backyard burning of garden refuse in Areas B, D, E, F and shíshálh Nation lands has been banned since April 15, but land-clearing burns are allowed with permits, when the venting index is listed as “good” and when following safety rules.
Permits for clearing debris are issued by the fire chief or fire prevention officer. The SCRD can issue a $250 ticket for burning without a permit, but if convicted by a judge, penalties can reach up to $2,000 or more under the Offence Act.
Legault also confirmed that provincial involvement in recovering the cost for the use of BC Wildfire Service has been “pursued in certain circumstances.”
– With files from John Gleeson and Sean Eckford
