British Columbia is experiencing one of its most active wildfire seasons in the past decade.

Members of the public are reminded to obey campfire bans and open fire prohibitions in effect wherever they may be over the Labour Day long weekend.

The Wildfire Management Branch is urging B.C. residents and visitors to use extreme caution while out camping or enjoying the backcountry. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and unnecessarily divert firefighters and other critical resources away from naturally occurring fires.

Almost half of all wildfires each year are caused by human activity and they can be sparked by something as small as a carelessly discarded cigarette butt. Motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle operators should use an approved spark arrestor and avoid parking on grass or at sites where the exhaust system is near combustible material, since that could also start a fire.

It is important for people to take the following safety precautions if campfires are permitted in their area. They may be held accountable for damages and fire suppression costs if their negligence results in a wildfire.

• Keep a shovel or keep at least eight litres of water nearby to properly extinguish the campfire.
• Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
• Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires.
• Flammable material (such a twigs and pine needles) must be removed from around the campfire area and this fuel-free area must be maintained while the campfire is burning.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

To find out if there are fire prohibitions in your area, visit: http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp

If you are in an area serviced by a local fire department, please check if it has any fire restrictions in place before lighting any fire.

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

Quick Facts:

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

Learn More:

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

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

Media Contacts:

George Maratos
Provincial Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 312-3051