Campfires and Canada Day are a go.
The BC Wildfire Service announced this week that a partial campfire ban will go into effect in parts of the Cariboo region on June 29, but outside of that corner of the province, it’s game on for the time being.
The service noted that wildfire danger ratings are climbing across B.C. and is reminding those tooling off into the backcountry to take precautions if they intend to burn.
- Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres high or 0.5 metres wide.
- Never light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions.
- Ensure any fire is built around a “fireguard,” a fuel-free area where all flammable materials are removed right down to the soil.
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Have a shovel or at least eight litres of water available to properly extinguish your campfire.
- Make sure that the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.
Anyone who lights a campfire is legally responsible for making sure it doesn’t escape and can face penalties ranging between $1,150 and $10,000. If convicted in court, a guilty party can be fined up to $100,000 or be sentenced to one year in jail.
From the period ranging between April 1 and June 27, the fire service dealt with 237 wildfires across the province, of 165 were caused by people.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone. To report suspicious activities, environmental damage or a natural resource violation, call 1-877-952-7277 or *7277 on a cell phone.
Up-to-date fire regulations and info can be found online at bcwildfire.ca.
