Effective at noon on June 30, campfires, category two and three open fires will be prohibited throughout the province of British Columbia.
According to a media release from the provincial ministry of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development this prohibition will remain in effect until noon on October 15, 2021, or until the order is rescinded.
The provincial weather forecast calls for record-breaking high temperatures throughout BC this week and follows a spring of lower-than-average precipitation in the southern half of the province. These conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks.
“Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province,” the release stated. “The BC government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.”
The release added that the BC wildfire service takes these extreme heat conditions seriously. Additional precautions are being undertaken throughout the province, including fire warden patrols, fixed-wing aircraft patrols and an active enforcement presence. Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility, the release stated, and human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires.
BC Wildfire Service is constantly monitoring current and forecast conditions and maintaining preparedness.
A campfire is defined as any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
In addition to campfires, Category 2, and Category 3 open fires, the following activities are also prohibited: use of fireworks; use of sky lanterns; use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description; use of binary exploding targets; use of tiki and similar kinds of torches; use of chimineas; use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1.800.663.5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000, or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail, the release stated. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The FireSmart Begins at Home Manual was developed to help people reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires. Download a copy here: firesmartbc.ca/resource-types/guides-manuals.
