Effective at noon on Thursday, Aug. 28, campfires will once again be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

The Coastal Fire Centre will rescind its existing campfire prohibition due to cooler weather in the forecast, which will result in a decreased wildfire risk in the region. The following activities will now be allowed:

• Campfires, as defined by the wildfire regulation.
• Open fires in an outdoor stove.

The public is reminded that campfires must not 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 fires include:

• The burning of any material in a pile larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide, up to two metres high by three metres wide
• The burning of stubble or grass covering an area up to 0.2 hectares
• Fireworks, sky lanterns and burning barrels of any size and description

Category 3 open fires also remain prohibited 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.

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.

The Coastal Fire Centre’s open fire prohibitions cover all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments. Please check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or non-compliant open burning, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *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 and Donna MacPherson
Fire Information Officers
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209
FORHPRP.INFOCO@gov.bc.ca