The open burning window begins on March 15 and runs until April 15. Do you know the rules and restrictions?

The open burning window applies to Electoral Areas A, B, C, D, E and G under Smoke Control Regulation Bylaw No. 3716. Electoral Areas F, H, and I must adhere to restrictions set in place by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/air-land-water/air/factsheets/high_sensitivity_burn_zone.pdf

The Cowichan Valley is a high smoke sensitivity zone. To protect local air quality during the open burning window, residents must: 

• Plan before burning to limit the amount of smoke generated. Choose healthy hearts and lungs instead by dropping off residential yard waste free of charge at a CVRD Recycling Centre
• Check the South Vancouver Island Venting Index and only burn when it is rated “GOOD” https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6d288bc667b24528a5c1e3b4c0373d07&center=1184354.1699%2C426679.8122%2C102190&scale=2311162.307&mobileBreakPoint=300
• Only burn dry, untreated, natural wood or branches (NO leaves, grass clippings, garbage or construction waste)
• Ensure that the burn pile is 10 metres from all property lines and is limited to one pile that is no more than two metres in diameter and two metres in height
• Only burn between 7:00 am and sunset of the same day
• Open burning shall be continuously controlled and supervised by a competent person equipped with sufficient fire extinguishing material

For more information about the rules, see https://www.cvrd.ca/2956/Know-the-Rules