The metro region is in for some wet weather but the fire ban imposed by the St. John’s Regional, Fire Department will remain in place at least until Friday.

Captain Cara Pardy, Fire Prevention officer with SJRFD, says they will evaluate the situation on Friday. Until then, the ban remains in place in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and Paradise.

The Forest Fire Index for the region is low but Captain Pardy says they take much more than that into consideration. Some of the other factors are human-caused and lightning-caused fires.

The population density is much greater in metro than in the forest at any given time. They also operate in what is referred to as Wildland Inter-Urban interface, which is an area containing structures close to or intermingled with forests and grasslands. This puts the risk of a fire starting and spreading at greater risk.

Captain Pardy refers to the evacuation of Kenmount Terrace five years ago as a sample of what can happen.

They’re asking people to be fire safe when using propane firepits and barbecues and to keep a hose or fire extinguisher handy.