Reports of a structure fire just before 5 p.m. on Sunday – on a farm near the intersection of 264 Street and 16 Avenue – brought multiple units from Langley Township fire department to the scene.
Locals reported traffic on 264 Street was slowed for less than a half-hour after the initial report.
Township deputy fire chief, Bruce Ferguson, put initial rumors of a structure fire to rest.
“It turned out to be unlawful burning on the property,” said Ferguson, “there was no structure involved – just the open burning of grass and hedges.”
The illegality of the open fire required Langley firefighters to extinguish the blaze.
“No one is allowed to burn until April 1,” Ferguson explained. Those that burn on their minumum half-acre property have to first obtain an open burning permit from Metro Vancouver.
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“And they can only burn things indigenous to their property or things they have grown,” Ferguson said. Not allowed to set ablaze includes garbage, paper, carboard and other manufactured materials.
Langley property owners who lit open fires before April 1 were given a $200 fine, $250 if they burned unprohibited materials.