North Cedar Fire Department

Reminder - no open fires are permitted until October 31. Campfires are the only fire currently allowed.

Good morning We are now in the extreme fire danger rating. Campfires are not prohibited within the North Cedar Fire Protection area. Stay safe. NCFD

We are launching a new Emergency and Information Alert system! Register to receive messages through an app, text message, voice call or email. We encourage all... RDN and District of Lantzville residents to register to stay informed. The old emergency notification system, Connect Rocket will no longer be used after October 1, 2020. To learn more or register visit: rdn.bc.ca/voyent-alert #bepreparedRDN

To add to our previous post regarding the current open burning ban, a request was made to provide further information on the different fire categories. Please reference the information sheet below. Cheers NCFD

Good Morning As you may have heard, the Provincial burning ban has been lifted. For information, the burning ban for our fire protection area still remains in effect. This includes all category 2 and category 3 burn piles, backyard burning and burn barrels. Camp fire are still allowed.... Stay safe. NCFD See more

Huge thank you to Karen & Fred Green, as well as Coco Cafe & Cedar Opportunities Co-operative , for the generous donation of $100 gift certificates to our firefighters! All our members are very appreciative of the recognition and community support. Have a safe and happy weekend. NCFD

Good Morning. We are re-posting the media release from the Ministry of Forests Category 2, Category 3, Resource Open Management Fires to be prohibited 4/7/2020 9:00 AM...Continue reading

Good Morning We are sharing this post from the Ministry of Forests. NCFD

Good Morning We have received some requests for clarification on the current open burning ban and how the ban affects campfires. The open burning ban has been issued through the Provincial Government by amending the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. The ban applies to all areas of the Province identified as being in High Smoke Sensitivity Zones. This includes Cedar.... The Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation does not include campfires and no specific reference has been made to include or exclude campfires within the burning ban. Having said that, the ban has been implemented as part of the Provincial response to COVID-19 to ensure improved air quality. At this time, it would seem logical that in order for everyone to do their part, campfires should be avoided. Stay healthy and safe. NCFD

Good Afternoon With the current situation around COVID-19 the Provincial Government has implemented an open burning ban for parts of the Province including the east coast of Vancouver Island. Open Burning is now prohibited in the Cedar fire protection area. Please refer to the link below for more information and pass this along to your family and friends.... https://www2.gov.bc.ca//2020-03-26_hssz_open_burning_restr

March 18, 2020 UPDATE: District office now closed to public To ensure the health and safety of staff and volunteers as well as the public, the District office ...will be closed to public effective March 18, 2020. District office staff are available to assist you during regular hours, Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Residents can contact staff by phone or email. Phone: 250-722-3711 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ncid.bc.ca NCID encourages you to make payments by mail, online through your financial institution, or telephone banking. Correspondence and payments can also be dropped in the mail slot to the left of the main entrance. Please note that burn permits are no longer required, visit the District website for more information and burn regulations. Thank you North Cedar Improvement District

**** PERMITS WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED **** Changes to Open Burning within the North Cedar Fire Protection District This information sheet is intended to ass...ist all residents that reside within the fire protection area serviced by the North Cedar Fire Department by providing important information on changes to open burning within the District. The fire department administration is currently reviewing the bylaws that pertain to the fire department and open burning. The review will likely result in significant changes to the rules and regulations around open burning in our area including more stringent regulations for burn pile size, material size and reduced burn pile set-backs from neighboring properties. In September of 2019 the Provincial Government introduced by legislation the new Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation which details new and more restrictive regulations for open burning provincially. Because of this new regulation we are working to revise our current bylaws to better align with the Province and once the revisions are adopted by the District we will be promoting the changes to our ratepayers. In the short term, we have already made a significant change regarding the requirement to obtain a burning permit. The District will no longer be issuing burning permits for open burning but the current regulations for burning remain in effect. Also, as in the last two warm seasons, all open burning will be banned from May 15th through October 30th regardless of the fire danger rating. Campfires will still be permitted provided a campfire ban has not been issued. Open Burning Q & A Q Why are there burning regulations? A Burning regulations are needed simply to ensure public safety. Our area is historically extremely dry in the summer months and the reduction of risk to life safety and property damage is very important. Q What types of burning are regulated within the NCID? A The District currently regulates Category 2 burn piles and campfires. Information for open burning within the District can be found by visiting the District website at www.ncid.bc.ca and going to the fire department tab burning regulations. Q Is open burning permitted all year? A NO. Open burning in the District will be permitted between October 31st and May 14th of each year. Q What is a campfire? A A campfire is considered a small fire (.5m X .5m) using clean seasoned wood and contained in a fire pit, typically used for cooking purposes. Q How will I know when a campfire ban is in place? A Residents are advised to check the fire danger rating sign boards located at the Nanaimo River bridge and in front of the fire hall. As well, information on campfire bans will be found on the District web site www.ncid.bc.ca as well as social media. Q Can I use a propane fuelled appliance during a campfire ban? A Yes. Propane fuelled fire pits and BBQ’s as well as briquette burning devices are permitted during a campfire ban providing they are CSA approved and do not emit any flame greater than 15cm. Q Can I still burn a land clearing burn pile? A Land clearing burn piles are considered Category 3 as defined by the BC Wildfire Regulation. The District does not currently regulate these burn piles and property owners wishing to burn are required to obtain a burn registration number from the Ministry of Forests by calling 1-888-797-1717. It is anticipated that Category 3 burn piles will be included in the revised District regulation. Q What is the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation? A The OCSCR is a Provincial regulation that provides for the control of smoke from open burning by requiring specific guidelines to be met before any burn pile is ignited. Information on the new regulation can be found by visiting: https://www2.gov.bc.ca//factsh/obscr_general_factsheet.pdf Q How do I contact the fire department regarding questions or concerns about open burning? A During business hours, persons can contact the fire department by calling 250-722-3122. After hours, please call 250-753-7311 and ask to speak with a duty officer. Regards, North Cedar Fire Department

Do you want to find out what support is available and how to move forward after experiencing a significant weather-related incident? Join us and other agencies at this drop-in session for residents recently impacted by flooding events.

It’s been a busy morning! Update on the flooding situation this morning. NCFD and Nanaimo SAR assisted several residents in leaving homes surrounded by water in the areas of Wilkinson Rd and Raines Rd. The RDN has arranged transportation and accommodations for the residents evacuated. NCFD, Nanaimo SAR, representatives from Snuneymuxw First Nation and BCEHS have a Command Post setup near the Cedar bridge and are monitoring the situation. ... Thanks NCFD