Outdoor Fire Safety

During warm summer days, BBQs and beach fires are a popular way to connect with family and friends. To keep your gatherings safe, the City of Campbell River has put together some guidelines, rules and regulations.

BBQ and Propane Safety

Summer is all about the BBQ. Whether with family or friends, it is a time to get together and enjoy what cooking outdoors can provide. Here are some common sense Dos and Don'ts for barbecue preparation and maintenance that will ensure your outdoor get-togethers are safe.

Complete an annual safety check, cleaning and maintenance prior to initial use each year. Ensure the hoses are clear and in good repair with no cracks. Insects often build nests in the hoses that can cause serious blockages. If the fittings, flex hose or burners are worn or rusted, be sure to replace them.
Check the cylinder connections for leaks before lighting your barbecue for the first time each season or any time you have replaced the tank. A leak-detection solution of equal parts liquid soap and water is a handy way to check all connections for tightness.
Use your grill only outdoors in a well-ventilated area clear of the house or other combustibles.
Open the barbecue lid before lighting. Remember to always turn the gas valve on first.
Keep gas hoses away from hot surfaces and hot grease.
Keep children away from the gas valve and the grill.
If using a briquette barbecue, be sure to dispose of the ashes by placing them in a noncombustible (metal) container filled with water prior to disposing.
Turn the valve off first when you finish allowing the gas in the hose to be burned off, and then turn off the burner controls, so no gas remains trapped in the hose.
Allow your barbecue to cool completely before covering it.
Use a good barbecue grill cleaner once or twice a year to for a good clean and
degrease.
When purchasing a new barbecue, ensure that it meets CSA and ULC Certification.

Don’t use matches or a lighter to check for leaks.
Don’t leave the barbecue unattended when in use.
Don’t wear loose clothing while operating the barbecue.
Don’t allow grease to build up. Clean the burners and grill regularly to minimize the risk of a serious grease fire.
Don’t put water on a grease fire. It will only cause the flames to flare.
Don’t barbecue in an enclosed space, such as a garage. For ventilation and safety reasons, move your barbecue into the open at least three meters away from windows and doors.
Don’t place your barbecue near wooden surfaces, beneath a combustible roof overhang or even under a tree with low branches. Be extra careful about the area behind the barbecue, where hot gases escape and could create a fire hazard.
Never store your propane cylinders in your home.

If your barbecue catches fire, call 9-1-1 immediately. Barbecue fires are typically a result of grease buildup, poor maintenance or leaks in the supply line. If it is safe to do so, shut the gas off to the barbecue at the cylinder, this will stop the flow of fuel from the cylinder should the supply line burn through and eliminate an even greater danger.

Propane Safety [PDF/582KB]

Beach and Backyard Fires

Recreational fires are allowed in Campbell River. Please review the Clean Air Bylaw [PDF/205KB] for a complete definition of a recreational fire.

Here are some tips for preparing and caring for your next beach or backyard fire:

Do not light a fire or keep it burning in windy conditions, as the e wind may carry embers and spread the fire.
Since fires are not allowed on park land or private property (other than your own), always light beach fires below the high tide line.
Recreational fires must not exceed 24 inches (60 cm) in diameter.
Maintain a fireguard around the fire by removing all flammable materials (grass, kindling, driftwood, etc.).
Never leave a fire unattended.
Be extra vigilant in supervising kids near the fire and teach kids how to Stop, Drop and Roll if their clothing should catch fire.
Keep a bucket of water nearby for extinguishing the fire.
Make sure that the fire is completely extinguished, and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area. An abandoned fire can become a dangerous and fast-moving blaze.

During hot, dry conditions the Campbell River Fire Department may restrict or ban the use of recreational fires. Visit Current Fire Restrictions for more information.

Campfires

Heading out camping? Careless use of campfires is one of the leading causes of forest fires. Wildfires threaten the lives of people and wildlife, destroy timber and other forest resources, and costs BC in excess of $1.5 million annually to extinguish. With our recent trend of hot, dry summers, this danger is only increasing.

When you leave the Campbell River area to go camping at a provincial or forestry campsite, please follow all guidelines provided by the Province of BC. The most current rules and restrictions can be found on the BC Wildfire Service website.

Review the Province's rules for campfires, stoves and portable campfires:

Wildfire Prevention

Prevention means stopping wildfires before they start. Visit BC's Wildfire Prevention Page for more information.

Outdoor Fire Safety

BBQ and Propane Safety

BBQ Dos

BBQ Don'ts

Beach and Backyard Fires

Campfires

Wildfire Prevention