Cooler temperatures and more rainfall means burning season is now open in the Township of Langley.
The season will also be extended an additional month, weather permitting.
Extremely hot and dry weather conditions over the summer had delayed the start of the burning season, but on Sept. 22, Metro Vancouver announced that water restrictions had been relaxed to Stage 1.
“The threat of fire danger was previously too high to allow outdoor burning, but the change in weather has reduced the risk,” said Township of Langley Assistant Fire Chief Pat Walker.
“Residents in areas that allow outdoor burning can now obtain permits and clean up the yard and garden debris, leaves, and branches that have accumulated over the summer and during the recent windstorm.”
Those who want to burn must have property that is half an acre or larger and is surrounded by properties that are at least the same size.
Burning is not allowed and permits are not issued for the urban areas of Aldergrove, Brookswood/Fernridge, Fort Langley, Murrayville, Walnut Grove, and Willoughby/Willowbrook.
Burning permits can be purchased for $25 from the Township’s Civic Facility, Fire Hall 6 in Murrayville, the Operations Centre, or at the Aldergrove Kinsmen, Walnut Grove, W.C. Blair, or Willoughby Community Recreation Centres.
Land clearing permits are only available for properties that are 4.2 acres or larger and can only be issued at Fire Hall 6 in Murrayville, at 22170 50 Ave.
Under normal conditions, burning season runs Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, but this year it will be extended to Nov. 30, if the weather allows.
For more information, call the Township of Langley Fire Department at 604-532-7500 or visit tol.ca/burning.