Effective at noon on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will once again be permitted in all forest districts within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdictional area, except parts of the South Island Forest District.

The existing open burning prohibition was rescinded due to cooler temperatures and increased precipitation, which has reduced the wildfire risk for these areas.

However, open fires will still not be allowed in the South Island Natural Resource District, except in the “Fog Zone”. The Fog Zone is a two-kilometre-wide band of land on the west coast of Vancouver Island that starts at Owen Point near Port Renfrew and continues northward to the eastern boundary of the District of Port Hardy.

Burn barrels, fireworks and tiki torches are also allowed in those areas where Category 2 and Category 3 fires are allowed.

To see a map of the prohibition area, please click here: http://bit.ly/1PJWNfU

Anyone lighting a Category 3 fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1 888 797-1717 and must comply with air quality control legislation. A Category 3 fire is a fire that burns:

• material piled more than two metres in height or three metres in width
• stubble or grass over more than 2,000 square metres
• more than two piles of any size

A person who lights a fire must have sufficient people, water and tools on hand to stop the fire from escaping.

This partial rescinding of open burning prohibitions applies to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has open fire bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities 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, abandoned campfire or open burning violation, 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
• Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo