Dear Editor,
(Open letter to operators at Golden Ears Provincial Park, City of Maple Ridge, and Maple Ridge Fire & Rescue)
Had two weekend trips to our much loved Alouette Lake South Beach (recently), and on both occasions we were genuinely alarmed by the amount of people (dozens of groups) grilling with sacks of blue bag hardwood lump charcoal, huge flames, lots of sparks drifting away.
Saw most using lighter fluid on them and one group had a blow torch for a commercial set up to grill meat for a large party and just all wandered away to take pictures while the flames raged. None of these people were being remotely responsible.
Hayward Lake recreation area is propane only, and Golden Ears should be too.
This is very serious.
Please, please, please, I beg you, this is out of control and it’s only going to worsen unless you take action.
Thank you.
James Turner
Editor’s Note: BC Parks did reply: “Thank you for reaching out. We appreciate your feedback and will share it with our regional staff for their review and consideration.”
Further note: The province imposed a fire ban on May 7 in the Coastal Fire Centre (which includes Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows), but rescinded part of the ban covering campfires on May 13, thanks to a reduction in wildfire hazards due to cooler temperatures and limited rain.