Effective at noon on May 18, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. According to a media release, this prohibition is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.
The release stated that category two and category three open fires will be prohibited throughout Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with the exception of Haida Gwaii. This prohibition will be in place until October 31, or until the order is rescinded.
The release stated that this prohibition applies to all public and private land, unless specified otherwise, such as in a local government bylaw. People are asked to check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.
Specifically, this prohibition refers to the following activities: category two open fire, which means an open fire, other than a category one campfire, that burns material in one pile not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width; burns material concurrently in two piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width; or burns stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares.
A prohibited category three open fire means an open fire that burns material concurrently in three or more piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width; material in one or more piles each exceeding two metres in height or three metres in width; one or more windrows, each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width; stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.
Also prohibited are fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description and air curtain burners.
This prohibition does not apply to category one campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes.
The release stated that anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire.
Coastal Fire Centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the United States – Canada border at Manning Park, including Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, 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, according to the release.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open fire violation, call 1.800.663.5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to bcwildfire.ca.
Follow the latest wildfire news on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices; on Twitter at twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo; and on Facebook at facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo.
