Despite releasing a wildfire caution for the Southeast Fire Centre, four human-caused fires erupted on Monday, March 10.
Jordan Turner, Fire Information Officer, said in a release that two of the fires were results of “poorly planned open burning” but that as all of the fires were human-caused they were all preventable.
The first was a five-hectare grass fire near Lind Creek in Greenwood that caused one home in the area to be temporarily evacuated.
Just outside of Baynes Lake, a 2.6-hectare fire blazed due to industrial pile burning that escaped onto surrounding grassy areas.
Two double-digit hectare fires broke out west of Highway 95A (11-hectare) and north of Cranbrook (15-hectare) are likely attributed to ATVs or dirt bike use.
“Monday's incidents are reminders for the public to remain vigilant with any recreational activities or open fires, and to ensure that they have contingency plans in place to extinguish any fire that may escape,” said Turner.
Turner noted that in addition to the mild temperatures and low relative humidity, exposed dried grass from last summer that has not had the opportunity to renew itself poses a high flammable risk.