Summer Campfire at sunset
Image Source: iPhoto

 

As of noon today, Wednesday, August 17, you’ll have to keep the s’mores gear at home when you go camping. Campfires and Category 3 open burning have been banned in most areas of the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the Fog Zone.

 

fog zone and fire ban

While our recent streak of hot weather has been great for sun-tanning, it hasn’t been great for BC’s wildfire situation. With temperatures in the mid-twenties, and no rain expected anytime soon, The Coastal Fire Centre is implementing the additional prohibitions.

 

The following activities will not be allowed:

  • campfires, as defined by the Wildfire Regulation (burning of woody debris)
  • open fires (using woody debris) in an outdoor stove
  • tiki torches
  • the use of fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
  • the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice)

This ban does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes; or to a CSA-rated or ULC-rated portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

 

Don’t even think about trying to push your luck, unless you’ve get an extra $1150 hanging around in your wallet, because anyone found in contravention of this ban may be issued a ticket, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. Yikes. If they cause or contribute to a wildfire, the person responsible may also be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

 

This ban is expected to remain in effect until October 21, or until further notice.

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