EC issues Special Weather Statement for Heat. Fire forecast for ‘active’ conditions.

Update: Campfire Ban in Effect including in City of Port Alberni as of Wednesday 17th Noon according to multiple sources.

(I will post a link to a Forest Service news page once I find one.)

Here is the statement from the Port Alberni Fire Department Facebook page.

CAMPFIRES PROHIBITED WITHIN THE CITY OF PORT ALBERNI
A campfire ban within the City will be in place effective noon Wednesday August 17, 2016. This ban is imposed under authority of City of Port Alberni Bylaw #4876 and #4906. Bylaw information found at: http://www.portalberni.ca/city-bylaws

The current campfire ban imposed by the BC Wildfire Service provides clarification on issues such as manufactured cooking and social fire devices. The City will use the Provincial clarification (summarized below) as a guide for how we interpret the City’s campfire ban.

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
BC Wildfire Service
Campfires prohibited in the Coastal Fire Centre
PARKSVILLE – Effective at 12 noon on August 17, 2016, campfires will be prohibited in all areas of the Coastal Fire Centre with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the area known as the ‘Fog Zone’. The Coastal Fire Centre is implementing this prohibition due to increased daily temperatures with no precipitation in the immediate forecast. This prohibition will remain in effect until October 21, 2016, or the public is otherwise notified.

The following uses will not be allowed:
campfires, as defined by the wildfire regulation (burning of woody debris) open fires, of woody debris, in an outdoor stove
tiki torches the use of fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description;
the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice).

The prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. Other items, or activities, that remain are prohibited are the use of tiki torches, fireworks and sky lanterns.

Here is EC’s statement in full:

Issued at 2016-08-16 22:16 UTC by Environment Canada:
Special weather statement continued for:
Inland Vancouver Island, B.C. (081500)
Current details:
Prolonged Hot Weather

———————————————————————

Following a near-normal start to summer, temperatures across the South Coast of B.C. will climb into the low thirties over the next few days.

A large ridge of high pressure will continue to build along the coast allowing warm air from the western US to move northwards. The hottest day will be Thursday as the ridge reaches its peak strength with afternoon highs above 32 degrees in many inland locations. Temperatures along the water will be closer to 25 degrees. The circulation will gradually shift onshore beginning Friday allowing temperatures to subside by a few degrees. The higher than normal temperatures are expected to last into the middle of next week.

Coping with the heat:

There are many symptoms of heat-related illness including thirst, dizziness, confusion, weakness and fainting/collapsing. Medical Health Officers are reminding residents to protect themselves from the heat.

1. Stay cool: Spend several hours every day in an air-conditioned facility. Avoid sunburn, stay in the shade or use sunscreen with SPF 30 or more.
2. Drink plenty of water: Drink cool, non-alcoholic beverages (preferably water) irrespective of your activity intake. Don’t wait until you are thirsty.
3. Check in on others: People living alone are at high risk of severe heat related illness. Check regularly on older people, those with mental illness and anyone else is unable to leave their un-air conditioned homes, for signs of heat-related illness.
4. Never leave children or pets in a parked car. Temperatures can rise to dangerous levels within minutes in an enclosed vehicle when the outside temperatures ‎are elevated. Leaving the car windows slightly open or “cracked” will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature.

The current EC forecast has Thursday/Friday/Saturday at 35/36/35 respectively.  Very hot and very dry.

Similarly the Fire weather forecast today from the BC Wildfire service says the following for the Coastal Fire Centre:

SYNOPSIS: Expect progressively hotter and drier conditions today and Wednesday as an upper ridge building offshore supports a dry westerly, becoming northwesterly flow over the region. Light to moderate outflow winds develop in many areas tonight, continuing well into Wednesday then strengthening Wednesday night to allow for sustained active burning conditions during the overnight hours.

OUTLOOK: Wednesday night’s outflow winds give a head-start to Thursday’s heating, leading into what will likely be the hottest and driest conditions seen on the Coast so far this year….. mid-thirties throughout interior valleys of the Island and Mainland Thursday and Friday afternoon as humidities drop below 25% in most areas and as low as 10% in spots). The outflow pattern weakens slightly Friday night but sunny skies, extreme temperatures & very low humidities are still expected on Saturday.

Synopsis: ….. The strengthening outflow pattern Wednesday and Thursday nights leads to generally poor overnight recoveries and 48+ hours of sustained active burning conditions.

UWash has Friday as the hottest day with temperatures up to 35.5ºC.

Extreme Fire danger is forecast now to begin in Beaver Creek and a few other Coastal areas on Wednesday or Thursday.

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