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If you see smoke in Helliwell……all is well. The province is continuing its work with a contractor to remove fuels via contained burning.

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!

Things to remember:

• Please align all your branches in one direction with the thick ends all together
• Nothing thicker than 16 cm (6″)
• Nothing longer than 32′
• Have your piles at the end of your driveway by the starting date but please don’t block traffic
• NO invasive species such as Scotch Broom, English Holly, Knotweed or Hogweed
• NO lumber or construction waste
• NO bags of leaves or grass clippings

This is a great program that removes fuel that can feed a wildfire near your house as well as improving the quality of our air by reducing burn piles.

We are sad to say that we have had to cancel fireworks this year due to the dry conditions.

While it might rain before Halloween, we just can’t be sure that it will, and so we had to decide to hold off.

We are really pleased to be able to confirm that the chipping program is back again this year. This program helps reduce solid fuels around your properties and keeps our air quality higher through the reduction in burning.

We received funding, found a home for our chips and have a service provider to handle the program.

Right now we are looking to have about a week of chipping starting in early November. As with previous years, your branches and brush will get put out on the road side, neatly arranged and pointing in one direction.

Keep your eyes on this space for further timing and instructions on what can go in your piles.

Over the last couple of days the fire danger rating has decreased to the point where high risk activities are now allowed again. However a total fire ban remains in effect until we have a little more forgiving weather.

If you do start using your chainsaw, please use extra caution and consider having a bucket of water or a spray can on hand while you work.

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.

You may have heard or read the news that the Coastal Fire Centre is removing the campfire ban in our area. This is certain to cause some confusion because we will not be removing the campfire ban on Hornby Island.

The simple explanation of our bylaw is that we can be MORE conservative than the province, but we can’t be LESS conservative. If the Province puts in a restriction, then we have to follow it. If they remove a restriction, we are not obligated to follow.

When I look at the closest observation stations to our area (Cedar, Bowser, Quinsam) they are all at extreme fire hazard and are forecasted to stay there for the rest of the week. When I add in how little rain we had last week, I believe it would be irresponsible to remove the campfire ban.

As always, if you see a wood fire, please call 911 to report it. Propane fires are allowed, as are fires in a wood stove in your house. If you are lighting up your woodstove, first have a look at your gutters and make sure that they aren’t filled with dry material ready to catch on fire from an errant spark.

Effective 0800 on Saturday, Sept 16, the ban on high-risk activities has been lifted. This follows the lowering of the fire danger rating two levels to “moderate”. A total fire ban remains in effect. If the fire danger rating goes back to extreme and stays there for three days, the high risk activity restrictions will go back in effect.