The Oliver Fire Department has implemented a campfire ban within its protection area. File photo
Because one individual left a campfire unattended at Loose Bay campground last Saturday, the entire Oliver fire protection district is under a campfire ban.
That means no campfires are allowed until further notice, said Oliver Fire Department spokesman Rob Graham.
He noted the ban is primarily due to a campfire that started a one-hectare grass fire off Secrest Hill Road on the afternoon of May 28.
“Somebody lit a campfire and left. It’s carelessness is what it is,” Graham said. “Lucky for everyone the wind pushed it away from the campground.”
Graham said firefighters managed to knock down the fire fairly quickly. But if the wind was blowing in the opposite direction, the fire could have consumed the campground and the brush beyond, even down to Sportsmen’s Bowl, he pointed out.
Graham said fire officials do not know who started the campfire and left it burning.
If this incident had not occurred, there would not have been a campfire ban, he stated.
Anyone caught with a campfire will be subject to a $125 fine, according to Oliver’s Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich.
At the same time firefighters were dealing with the grass fire, they received another callout regarding smoke on Road 9, where the second floor of a workshop was on fire.
Graham said they had to tear away some wood panels to get at the fire in the walls and in the roof.
Firefighters managed to knock down the fire, which was reportedly caused by “human error.” No injuries were reported.
But that wasn’t the case during a fire on Road 1 last Thursday when a 5th wheel trailer became fully engulfed at a residence across from Airport Road.
Graham said the report came in at approximately 1 a.m. The fire had spread to a cabin on the property, where someone was living. That person was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.
Firefighters managed to save the rest of the cabin, but the 5th wheel was totally destroyed. The cause is undetermined.
On top of all the fires, members had a “heck of a time” dealing with traffic in town, Graham said, noting that a lot of motorists did not pull over for the fire trucks.
“It makes it hard for us to manoeuvre through town . . . remember the rules of the road.”
By Lyonel Doherty
