Coquitlam RCMP find illegal fire remnants in Eagle Mountain Park

Coquitlam RCMP and the Coquitlam Fire Rescue Department are reminding the public not to start fires in parks and forests, after discovering remnants of several recent fires in Eagle Mountain Park.

In a release Wednesday, police restated that open-air burning is illegal, and the location in Eagle Mountain Park, presents an increased risk for wildfires.

The park is near a residential area, and with a forecasted extremely dry season, Coquitlam RCMP Corp. Alexa Hodgins told CityNews, both services are asking for extra caution.

“These open air fires could potentially grow, and go towards the neighbourhood,” said Hodgins.

She said even with recent rainfall, the risk is still present. Hodgins recalled two homes in Coquitlam which recently caught fire.

“Just because it’s been raining doesn’t mean that the fire danger isn’t there.”

B.C.’s Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship said the province’s snowpack as of April 1 was “extremely low,” meaning there is likely to be a drier and warmer-than-usual summer, raising wildfire concerns across the province.

The ministry said rain can be good for reservior levels, but one or two rainfalls aren’t enough to offset current conditions.

“It is the lowest snowpack on record since 1970, at least, for the province and the Fraser River,” the ministry said in its snow and water supply bulletin.

Coquitlam RCMP says they don’t know who started the fires in Eagle Moutain Park, but outdoor burning in the City of Coquitlam is a violation under the Fire Prevention and Life Safety Bylaw and violators may be fined.

With files from Hana Mae Nassar.