Roy L Hales/ CKTZ News - In the midst of heat wave that is breaking temperatures across British Columbia, the BC Wildfire Service is imposing a ban on any open fires, including campfires, fireworks, tiki torches, outdoor stoves, sky lanterns, burn barrels and more in the Greater Campbell River Area (which includes Cortes, Read and quadra Islands).
This prohibition will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2021, or until the order is rescinded.
The provincial weather forecast calls for record-breaking high temperatures throughout B.C. this week and follows a spring of lower-than-average precipitation in the southern half of the province. These conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks.
Campbell River set a new record - 39.6°C - on Sunday. Powell River and Comox set new records, of 38.4 and 38, Monday.
The heat wave has resulted in 65 deaths in Vancouver, 25 in Burnaby, 20 in Surrey.
“ The current heat wave is a reminder that time is running out. B.C.’s lack of climate action has severe consequences that are already being felt today. We need immediate policy change guided by what science shows is needed to save life as we know it.” said Jens Wieting, Sierra Club BC’s senior forest and climate campaigner.
BC’s emissions have risen at least 27% from 1990 until 2019, the last year we have publics records for. During this same period, the European Union’s emissions dropped 28%.
“If B.C. truly wants to become a climate leader, the province must follow the example of those countries that are setting climate targets based on what is needed to safeguard a livable climate, not wishful thinking. Meeting science-based targets will require stopping all new fossil fuel development, ending fossil fuel subsidies and phasing out the use and production of fossil fuels as quickly as possible.”
Photo credit: Boy on beach by Monica Gozalo on Unsplash
