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Effective noon on Wednesday, September 18, we will be lifting the ban on backyard burning. Burning yard waste can be divided into two categories:

• Category II: The pile is less than 3 meters in diameter and under 2 meters high. It contains material less than 10cm in diameter. You must have some handtools and a hose nearby. No permits are required and waiting for a good ventilation index is neighbourly thing to do.
• Category III: The pile is larger than 3 meters in diameter, build using a machine, or contains logs or stumps. You must have a machine standing by, a water source of at least 2000 litres, and a pump capabile of delivering 200 litres per minute. These piles always require a permit and a good ventilation index.

To report an illegal or dangerous campfire, please call the non-emergency number at the fire hall (250.335.2611) and you will have the option to be connected with a fire patrol member.

Effective noon on Wednesday, August 28, we will be lifting the ban on campfires. Campfires are a half a meter, or less, in diameter and used for cooking, warmth, or ceremony.

Please use water to extinguish your campfire. Burying it in sand leaves a very hot pit which can give a person or animal a nasty burn.

To report an illegal or dangerous campfire, please call the non-emergency number at the fire hall (250.335.2611) and you will have the option to be connected with a fire patrol member.

The Coastal Fire Center of the BC Wildfire Service has put a campfire ban in effect beginning Friday, July 12 at noon. Propane fire rings are still allowed.

Eight new fires have started in BC in the last 24 hours. It’s important that we do what we can to not overwhelm our firefighting resources. It could be a long, hot, dry summer.

If you see a fire on one our beaches, please call the non-emergency number at the fire hall (250.335.2611) and you will have the option to be connected with the fire patroller.

CSA and UL certified propane fire rings are permitted. They can be identified by their lack of smoke, sparks, and consistent flame.

The yard clearing season is coming to a close. Every year it gets a little earlier it seems. A persistent drought, a dry Spring, several fires that escaped on Vancouver Island, and the BC Wildfire Service resources that are mobilized in the North are contributing factors.

If you have an open permit, consider it closed on Friday evening at 1800. No new permits will be written. Campfires (50cm in diameter) are still open and don’t require a permit.

We have lowered the flag on the Hornby Fire Hall to acknowledge the passing of Denman Island Fire Chief Don Luckett (retired). Chief Luckett died this morning after a battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with our friends at Denman Island Fire Rescue and Chief Luckett’s friends and family.

The Coastal Fire Center of the BC Wildfire Service has put a campfire ban in effect beginning Friday, July 12 at noon. Propane fire rings are still allowed.

Eight new fires have started in BC in the last 24 hours. It’s important that we do what we can to not overwhelm our firefighting resources. It could be a long, hot, dry summer.

If you see a fire on one our beaches, please call the non-emergency number at the fire hall (250.335.2611) and you will have the option to be connected with the fire patroller.

CSA and UL certified propane fire rings are permitted. They can be identified by their lack of smoke, sparks, and consistent flame.

It has been a few years, but we’re back with another Cadet Camp. This is a one-day camp for kids aged 10- 14. They’ll learn fire safety, how to escape a burning building, first aid, use real fire extinguishers to put out a real fire, and advance and spray a fire hose.

They’ll come back in the evening to show off their new skills in front of their parents and family. We’ll be at the firehall all day except for an afternoon event in the school parking lot.

We’ll be holding it on March 30 from 10AM – 3:30PM. Lunch is included and the camp is free. You can register at this link, or by calling the fire station office at 250.335.2611.

After far too many cancelled years, it’s back!

The weather is forecasted to be a warm 5 degrees with a slight chance of showers for the 2022 edition of the Hornby Island Polar Bear Swim. HIFR will be at Grassy Point beach with trucks, hot dogs, chai and a big bonfire in anticipation of the multitude of swimmers hitting the water at noon sharp.

This is a great family event with everyone from 6 years old to those in their 80s swimming or just watching the spectacle.

Pro tips:
1) Bring a mug for the hot chai to avoid a single-use cup.
2) Wear water shoes because the pebbles can be hard on your feet.

Saturday, Nov 19, 10-noon at the fire hall. There will be coffee and cookies!

It’s back. I have never seen such extreme fire-hazard conditions so late in the season. After 3 days of “extreme” hazard, we are obligated to put the high-risk activity ban in effect. No chainsaw or brush cutting for the next few days. Hopefully, Friday will bring rain and everything can return to normal.