PARKSVILLE - Effective at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, all open fires will be permitted across the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

Burn barrels, fireworks and tiki torches will also be permitted. People who intend to conduct open burning must check with local government to ensure there are no additional local bylaws that might regulate open burning.

Campfires must be no larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre tall. People who light campfires are reminded to have a hand tool, such as a shovel, or at least eight litres of water nearby to fully extinguish the campfire.

Category 2 fires are fires that burn material smaller than two metres in height and three metres in width, or stubble or grass over an area smaller than 2,000 square metres.

Anyone lighting a Category 3 fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1 888 797-1717. A Category 3 fire is one that burns material piled more than two metres high or three metres wide; or stubble or grass over more than 2,000 square metres; or more than two piles of any size.

A person who lights a fire must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to stop the fire from escaping, and must comply with air quality control legislation.

The rescinding of this prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a 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.A.-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 or unattended campfire, 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, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

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

Media Contacts:

Donna MacPherson
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209