Effective at noon on July 23, 2014, campfires will once again be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. The Coastal Fire Centre is rescinding its campfire prohibition due to forecasted cool and rainy weather conditions.

The following uses will now be allowed:

• campfires, as defined by the wildfire regulation
• open fires in an outdoor stove

The long-term forecast, however, is for a return to hot and dry conditions after the weekend. These conditions will likely result in the reintroduction of a campfire ban prior to the August long weekend.

The public is reminded that campfires cannot be larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool (such as a shovel) or at least eight litres of water available to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure that the ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Small backyard burning piles (Category 2 fires) remain prohibited within the Coastal Fire Centre, except in Haida Gwaii and the area known as the “fog zone”. The fog zone is a two-kilometre-wide strip along the outer coast of Vancouver Island, stretching from Owen Point (near Port Renfrew) north to the tip of Vancouver Island and around to the boundary of the District of Port Hardy. This strip extends inland two kilometres from the high-tide point.

Category 2 burning includes:

• the burning of any material in piles larger than a half-metre-high by a half-metre wide up to two metres tall by three metres wide
• the burning of stubble or grass up to 0.2 hectares in size
• fireworks and burning barrels of any size and description

Category 3 open fires continue to be restricted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Anyone found in violation of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket of up to $345 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

Prohibitions implemented by the Coastal Fire Centre covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all of the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range north of the U.S.-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.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or non-compliant open burning, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Marg Drysdale
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209
FORHPRP.INFOCO@gov.bc.ca

Ellie Dupont
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209
FORHPRP.INFOCO@gov.bc.ca