New Westminster firefighters have been responding to an increasing number of “wildland” fires in recent weeks – including a “fairly substantial” one on Front Street.
Glen Bailey, acting assistant chief with New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services, said the fire department has been responding to a lot of what it calls “wildland” fires, which often occur when someone has thrown a cigarette but into a garden or grassy area.
“We have had a significant rise in wildland fires,” he told the Record.
Bailey said the fires often occur in parks and greenspaces, including spots near malls and libraries, when people dispose of cigarettes in an area with grass or bark mulch.
“They don’t get lots of flame, but they can burn several centimetres into the ground,” he said. “They are not flame fires, but they smoulder and smoulder and smoulder.”
According to Bailey, fire crews attend a fairly substantial wildland fire in the 400 block of Front Street on Wednesday night. He said two fire trucks were required at the scene for one-and-a-half hours, and the trains tracks were shut down for that time.
“We don’t know the start of the fire,” he said. “The fire prevention officer will be investigating.”
A fire ban, which includes smoking and charcoal barbecues, in New West parks came into effect at noon on Thursday, June 8.
