The District of Kitimat has issued a water advisory for the region, urging residents to help conserve water.
DoK spokesman Mike Dewar said due to dry conditions, elevated fire risks and low water source levels, the district issued the advisory on Monday morning.
”The District encourages residents with odd-numbered houses to water on odd-numbered calendar days and even-numbered houses to water on even-numbered days,” said Dewar.
He said the annual average daily consumption rate historically is 6.4 million litres/day.
This year in July alone, the average was 10.5 million litres/day, with recent usage being as high as 17 million litres/day.
“If a fire was to break out we would have to draw on our reserves to extinguish it, which would ultimately mean having to then draw straight out of the river, which we want to avoid,” said Dewar.
He said the advisory is necessary to ensure that firefighting crews have enough water to fight a potential fire.
Deputy fire chief Pete Bizarro said three fires were reported this weekend, two which resulted from people using propane firepit devices, the third an open backyard firepit.
He said the two propane fires were quickly extinguished and didn’t pose a risk.
The third fire, in Kildala, resulted from a backyard fire pit that was left unattended.
“The homeowner wasn’t at home when the fire broke out. Fortunately, vigilant neighbours spotted the fire and reported it,” said Bizarro.
The fire was extinguished by the time firefighters arrived on scene shortly after the fire was reported.
“This is a great reminder of why the fire ban must be adhered to. We again stress that fires in backyard firepits are not allowed,” said Bizarro.
“Despite these three incidents, we are seeing a high level of compliance to the fire ban in Kitimat. We would like to thank residents for being exceptionally vigilant,” he added.
Bizarro said it was of extreme importance that fires are reported immediately so that they can be extinguished before they get out of control.
“All provincial firefighting resources are currently committed to fighting the wildfires throughout the northwest and the province, which leaves us at a disadvantage. We have to get onto any fire quickly.”
Bizarro said this is important considering how dry the surrounding forests are currently.
“We could do with a little rain right about now.”