Effective at noon Sept. 1, campfires will be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre due to a decreased risk of wildfires.
Although campfires, fireworks and tiki torches are now permitted, open fires of any other description remain prohibited, including burning barrels.
The rescinding of the campfire ban applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have open fire bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.
Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres wide or 0.5 metres tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool such as a shovel or at least eight litres of water nearby to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area.
Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $345. Should a wildfire occur as a result of recklessness, a person can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The Coastal Fire Centre is responsible for wildfire response for about 2.1 million hectares of land. Geographically, the centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain range from the U.S./Canada border at Manning Park to Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, please call *5555 on your cell or toll-free?1-800-663-5555. For more information on open fire prohibitions, area restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
— Submitted by Ministry of Forests and Range
