A campfire ban for BC's South Coast region takes effect tomorrow
With hot, dry weather forecast to continue across BC this week, a campfire ban for the South Coast is set to take effect at noon tomorrow.
The campfire prohibition will remain in effect through October 2018 or until the public is otherwise notified.
Campfires will be prohibited will be prohibited within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the area known as the “fog zone.”
“The Coastal Fire Centre is implementing these prohibitions due to high temperatures and no rain in the immediate forecast,” said the BC Wildfire Service in a statement. “Since April 1, 2018, 69% of wildfires in the Coastal Fire Centre have been caused by people.
For those heading into the outdoors, it should be noted that the ban does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
Anyone found disobeying the burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, 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.
If a person disobeying the ban is found to cause – or contribute – to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, as well.
“Human-caused wildfires are entirely preventable, and can divert critical firefighting resources away from naturally occurring wildfires,” the BC Wildfire Service said.
This animation shows how recent hot and dry weather patterns have led to increased #BCwildfire danger ratings across #BC.
Many areas are now at a HIGH fire danger rating, so please do your part to prevent unnecessary human-caused fires when you’re outdoors! pic.twitter.com/UK41UlgFOp
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) July 17, 2018
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