As fire danger ratings rise in many of B.C.'s urban parks, authorities are urging park users to be cautious and responsible.
City of Vancouver Park Ranger Patrick Cullen says cigarettes, charcoal barbeques and beach fires are the greatest cause for concern.
"Ambers can rise very quickly and enter into the canopy, or they can fall onto the ground and that could be a volatile situation," he said.
The rating in Vancouver's Stanley Park has been raised from moderate to high, a result of the hot, dry weather experienced in the city this month.
Vancouver, which usually gets about 23 millimetres of rain in July, has seen less than one millimetre so far this month.
If the rating is increased again to extreme, a fire ban will be imposed in the park. "Last year, we had three weeks of solid extreme fire hazard," Cullen said. "It is on our mind and it should be on the minds of those that are park users."
Smokers are reminded to discard their butts responsibly, and charcoal barbeque users are asked to bring extra water to douse the briquettes.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Bal Brach
