The Capital Regional District has had its last legal beach fire. The District of Metchosin voted unanimously at a council meeting on June 15 to ban all beach fires at Taylor and Weirs beaches effective immediately. The two beaches were the last two in the CRD allowing beach fires at all. "It's just a matter of over population," said Metchosin Coun. Moralea Milne. "If there is only two people doing them it is maybe a small impact, but with a beach fire ban across the CRD it has become an impossible situation." Many of the issues pertained to safety, people were burning pallets and other items unsuitable for beach fires, leaving behind nails, broken glass and unextinguished embers posing safety concerns for dogs and children what often walk the beaches barefoot. Environmental issues including the loss of habitat for forage fish that can have seen their natural habitats eroded by the increasing number of beach fires, have also played a role. "Sadly the situation is getting out of hand with too many fires," said Metchosin Mayor John Ranns. "It is another example of the impacts that the urban pressures are having on our rural lifestyle." The Metchosin Fire Department and CRD Bylaw will patrol the beaches to educate and enforce the new regulations. Signs have already been posted advising of the new beach fire ban. alim@goldstreamgazette.com