Fire Advisory for Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
Update: Friday, August 5th: The Fire Ban remains in effect until further notice. No burning is permitted, except for propane BBQs and propane firepits. Stay safe!
Press Release
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2022
Fire Advisory for Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, NL – The Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department wishes to advise all residents that a fire ban remains in effect within the community. The fire ban will remain in effect for the weekend and until further notice. This includes backyard fire pits, chimneas, charcoal BBQs and open fires. Propane firepits are permitted.
This current decision was made through consultation with all Fire Departments within the Northeast Avalon and information gathered from the Department of Forestry. Through these consultations, and in evaluating the current conditions and upcoming forecasts, there continues to be a high concern of fire risk, given the low rates of rainfall in comparison to the dry temperatures over the last two weeks.
The Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department will continue to monitor and adjust the Fire Advisory as needed, keeping the safety of residents, and property in mind for our region. We ask residents to help us in this effort, and we encourage everyone to monitor our Facebook page for updates.
Further, with everything being so dry, the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department is reminding residents to be diligent when discarding smoking materials and would like to offer the following smoking safety tips.
Smoking Safety
- If you smoke, use only fire safe cigarettes.
- If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths result from fires that started in living rooms, family rooms, and dens or in bedrooms.
- Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high out of the reach of children, in a locked cabinet.
Put It Out
- Use a deep, sturdy ashtray. Place it away from anything that can burn.
- Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants or landscaping, peat moss, dried grasses, leaves or other things that could ignite easily.
- Before you throw away butts and ashes, make sure they are out, and dousing in water or sand is the best way to do that.
- Please do not discard from a moving vehicle.
In the meantime, the Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department are asking people to be fire safe when using propane firepits and barbeques, to keep a hose or fire extinguisher handy and follow manufacturer’s requirements regarding clearances from combustible materials.
The Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department will monitor this situation closely and will update residents of any changes to the ban.
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For Further Information Contact:
Fred Hollett
Fire Chief
Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s Fire Department
709-895-8000 ext. 267
[email protected]
or
Media Contact:
Stephanie Tucker
Director of Economic Development, Marketing, and Communications
Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
709-895-8000 ext. 271
[email protected]