TimberWest has confirmed it is investigating after the company received complaints about the strong smell of smoke over Greater Victoria on Halloween night following some controlled burns in the Shirley and Sooke areas.
Residents on the West Shore, Victoria and Saanich started reporting the smoke smell around 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. The B.C. Air Quality Health Index map showed the air quality was rated 7 for a short amount of time, which is a high health risk. Victoria’s health risk was moderate. The ratings dropped back down to a low health risk around 3 p.m.
The smoke was due to open burning of slash piles between Sooke and Shirley, the B.C. Forest Service said. The prescribed burns were being done by TimberWest.
Both Langford Fire Rescue and the Saanich Fire Department responded to the multiple calls they were receiving about the smoke, saying there were no active fires in either of the area.
Controlled burns towards Shirley and Sooke area causing smoke in Langford. There are no fires in the Westshore. Please only call 911 if you see a distinct column of smoke or see flames.#yyj #cityoflangford #langford pic.twitter.com/RLYDqDYkFB
— Langford Fire Rescue (@LangfordFire) October 31, 2018
Hey #Saanich this smoke is drifting out from the Westshore into @saanich and @CityOfVictoria the smoke index is high at the moment. There are no active fires here #besafenotsorry
DW https://t.co/4Vh2UCAtU5— Saanich Fire (@SaanichFire) October 31, 2018
“We heard the complaints about the smoke, and we are investigating. We take precautions to ensure that appropriate conditions are in place for prescribed burning in accordance to venting regulations,” Monica Bailey, TimberWest spokeswoman, said.
With files from The Times Colonist