![](https://www.colwood.ca/sites/default/files/styles/homepage_hot_topic/public/fire/images/grass-fire.jpg?itok=jYU7_CI-)
The Fire Danger rating for the City of Colwood has been elevated to HIGH
The use of outdoor fire appliances is prohibited when the fire rating is high or extreme.
Please take extra care to prevent unintended fires:
- Properly discard of cigarette butts and never throw a cigarette out the window of a vehicle.
- Do not leave glass bottles lying in dry grass or brush where the magnified sun may spark a fire.
- Keep bark mulch moist and away from flammables such as barbecues, vehicles and decorative lights.
Open burning is prohibited in Colwood at all times.
The City of Colwood prohibits all open yard fires, beach fires and camp fires as well as land clearing, demolition and construction waste fires. Portable propane, charcoal briquette or natural gas appliances may be used. More information is available on the Fire Department web page.
Why aren’t beach fires allowed in Colwood?
The Colwood Fire Department would like to remind the public that beach fires are not permitted in Colwood, for several reasons:
- Smoke from beach fires impacts air quality for the surrounding neighbourhood and can be quite toxic. Some treated drift wood releases dangerous chemicals.
- Many adults, children and pets have been seriously burned by beach fires that have been left burning, or smothered under the sand and not visible.
- A small beach fire left burning can be time consuming to get to and put out, tying up first responders who may be needed elsewhere in the community.