Fort St. John firefighters respond to two grass fires on Tuesday

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Local firefighters spent around two hours putting out a controlled burn that got out of control on Tuesday.

Deputy fire chief Matt Troiano said 16 fire personnel responded to the fire around 5 p.m.

This was the second grass fire in Fort St. John on Tuesday and followed the many wildfires that have sparked in the Peace regions since last weekend. 

The deputy fire chief wants to remind everyone to check in with BC Wildfire to ensure any burns are permitted.

“We are seeing significantly drier and hotter conditions than would typically be the case for the beginning of May,” Troiano said.

“We’re already seeing the fire danger rating being moderate to high in the peace region, and we’re anticipating this to be a trend going into the future and into the summer.”

Troiano says anyone looking to have a fire or conduct a controlled burn should only do so if permitted and take extra precautions when needed.

As of May 2nd, some areas of the peace have a “high” fire danger rating, and others are listed as “moderate.” 

Check the BC Wildfire Service website for updated information on bans, wildfires, prevention, and preparedness.