A Friday night beach fire may seem like a good time, but one in Victoria reared up again the next morning, prompting a reminder of the legality and pitfalls.
Saturday (May 24) started with 6:30 call from the public about a beach fire. When crews arrived, they found a large section of driftwood actively burning, Victoria Fire Department said on social media.
Unable to contain the fire with buckets, firefighters were forced to extend a hose line across 600 feet from Dallas Road to the water’s edge.
The department sent a pretty clear message on social media later that day: “Honestly though – just stop having beach fires in the City of Victoria.”
Despite being against bylaws, the Victoria Fire Department douses some 250 beach fires each year.
“Heading into the dry season, please be mindful about your decisions and how they will impact the tinder dry conditions we experience in B.C. every year, not just in Victoria, but all through the province.”
For public safety and environmental protection, fires are not allowed in Victoria parks or on beaches, including natural gas and propane fire rings.
Smoke from beach fires can impact air quality for nearby residents, the city said in a 2023 news alert. It’s a message reiterated each year.
When burned, salt-saturated driftwood releases carcinogenic dioxins into the air. Beach fires are also a risk to coastal plants, trees and wildlife, and pose a risk to nearby homes. People and pets can be seriously burned by leftover beach fires that are smothered by sand instead of water and remain hot.
They can also flare up again.
A beach fire offence can result in a fine ranging from $350 to $2,000.
