The Lower Mainland is getting its first real taste of summer weather as things warm up dramatically beginning Friday.
CityNews Meteorologist Carl Lam says the inland temperatures on both Friday and Saturday are going to hit 26 degrees.
“Do whatever you can to stay cool,” he urged. “It’s still going to be very, very warm even as the Canucks game gets underway at 7 p.m. Temperatures will still be close to the low 20s and it doesn’t really cool off that much by the time the game ends.”
He adds things will cool down slightly on Sunday with a mix of sun and cloud.
“For Mother’s Day, we could have a few showers late in the day, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to ruin any of your Mother’s Day plans.”
Vancouver Fire sounds alarm in preparation for hot weather
Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) says it’s concerned, given how tinder-dry current conditions are that some careless person could spark a fire.
“We’re really worried about ignition sources of all types anything producing heat,” explained Captain Matthew Trudeau.
Trudeau says crews have recently been called to cooking and grease fires, some of which were started because a barbeque or air fryer was left unattended.
“Distractions happen in life. We had a couple of them where people leave devices on, walk away, come back and you have a kitchen fire,” he said.
“You really have to be there and be present in what you’re doing. Anytime you’re cooking, oven, device, any appliance — stay in the kitchen, stay in that area. If you do have to go, unplug the device and make sure it’s cool.
Trudeau is urging people to check their appliances to make sure they’re in good working order.
“Really make sure your appliances are maintained and cleaned and really be mindful of any combustibles in the area of those heat sources that could be ignited just from radiant heat from cooking.”
Trudeau says you should avoid cooking anything in your garage or a closed-off area.
“Keep at least a metre distance around a barbecue in all directions, especially above where the majority of the heat will rise up and could ignite some thin wood material, brush, or vegetation.
“We have seen … very thin fence material, anything that drapes down or if people decorate their backyards with different materials [catch fire]. Be mindful of canapes and umbrellas.”
If your barbecue is on the deck, he suggests putting it on a substantial platform.
Trudeau says no matter how much people want to get out and enjoy the weather, there are strict rules in place.
“We do have a ban in place for any open flames, so campfires, or any pits — all of those are banned in the City of Vancouver, including on beaches. And only approved devices used for cooking can be used in people’s backyards.”
Trudeau says educating yourself on the dangers of igniting a fire is key to prevention.
“There is a heightened risk during high-temperature events and when it’s warmer outside, we have dry conditions, and the fire risk goes up. It’s not just heavily forested areas. It’s parks, it’s neighbourhoods, it’s fence lines.”
He points out VFRS’s biggest issue remains people who flick cigarette butts.
“Smoker material is our number cause of fire in the city and it’s on beaches, parks, even people who are in their vehicle flicking butts out their windows. We did have a significant fire event last summer where someone did that at Main and Station streets — someone stopped, flicked a cigarette butt out, and set the whole boulevard area on fire and it went up into a tree,” he explained.
“These small insignificant things that people might not think can cause harm, there are serious repercussions.”
Trudeau admits it can be a drain on resources when they’re called out for instances that are entirely preventable.
“There are eyes everywhere on beaches and people are going to call 911, regardless of the day or middle of the night, we’re going to go down and go find campfires and we will put them out. There is an ability to enforce bylaw measures and ticket, but crews would just rather not be there in the first place.”
He stresses fires that may start small can quickly catch on to trees and spread to businesses and homes.
Trudeau says the other major concern for crews is the number of people who don’t have working fire alarms.
“These are very cheap, accessible devices. Make sure they’re outside each sleeping area of your house and they work. Fires can reach flashover in hundreds of degrees within minutes or less and there’s just no time if you don’t have a smoke alarm. It will save your life. “
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