IDYLLIC beach and garden party weather means forests are at a greater risk of wildfire, local fire chiefs are warning.
The warm, dry conditions have pushed Metro Vancouver's fire hazard risk to "high" from Seymour to Burns Bog.
"We've got 'high' at all stations right now. It shows how quickly we can dry out. We get a few good days of weather and here we are," said Martin Ernst, West Vancouver Fire and Rescue chief.
Residents can help reduce risk by making sure their yards, roofs and gutters are free of debris and branches that can be turned to kindling with a single spark.
Ernst has a warning for smokers whose habit might be putting more than their own lungs at risk.
"I have regularly been ticketing people for throwing cigarette butts out of the windows of their cars because those can end up in bark mulch on the side of the highway and can start grass and brush fires," Ernst said.
There's also a role for everyone to play in making sure small fires don't become forest fires or home-destroying blazes.
"Ultimately, it's vigilance. It's all about eyes out there. If you notice smoke that doesn't seem like it's coming from a barbecue or you're questioning its source, you phone 9-1-1 right away and you get fire services rolling on it," Ernst said.
