BC Gov News

Rain and cooler temperatures have reduced the wildfire risk in most parts of the province, so the BC Wildfire Service has rescinded campfire bans in specific regions effective at noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.

Campfire bans will be fully rescinded throughout the Prince George Fire Centre, Cariboo Fire Centre and Kamloops Fire Centre.

Campfire bans will be partially rescinded (for specific areas only) in the Coastal Fire Centre, Southeast Fire Centre and Northwest Fire Centre. Detailed information for each fire centre is provided below.

Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Cariboo Fire Centre:

Effective at noon on Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be allowed throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/jvE730lJeLi

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• stubble or grass burning of any size
• the use of tiki torches
• the use of chimineas
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for target practice)

Kamloops Fire Centre:

Effective at noon on Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be allowed throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/xKx130lIvC5

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• the use of tiki torches
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for target practice)

Prince George Fire Centre:

Effective at noon on Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be allowed throughout the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/Gxua30lIuvP

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for target practice)

Coastal Fire Centre:

Effective at noon on Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be allowed on Haida Gwaii. However, campfires are still prohibited elsewhere in the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, except in the “fog zone” on Vancouver Island (see description below). A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/XpkK30lIAba

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, except in the fog zone on Vancouver Island:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• stubble or grass burning of any size
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for target practice)

Chimineas, tiki torches, stoves and portable campfire devices that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved can be used only in the fog zone and on Haida Gwaii.

Northwest Fire Centre:

Effective at noon on Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be allowed throughout the Cassiar Fire Zone and Skeena Fire Zone, and in the northern portion of the Bulkley Fire Zone. However, campfires are still prohibited elsewhere in the Northwest Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/nNsl30lJ98F

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Northwest Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation

In the Nadina Fire Zone and the southern portion of the Bulkley Fire Zone, campfires and the following activities remain prohibited:

• the use of tiki torches
• the use of chimineas
• the use of outdoor stoves and portable campfire apparatus that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved, or if the flame is longer than 15 centimetres
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for target practice)

Southeast Fire Centre:

Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, campfires will be permitted in the Columbia Fire Zone. However, the campfire prohibition will remain in effect in the Boundary, Cranbrook, Invermere, Arrow and Kootenay Lake fire zones. A map showing the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/9t1k30fiVpT

The following activities also remain prohibited within the Boundary, Arrow, Kootenay Lake, Invermere and Cranbrook Fire Zones:

• the use of tiki torches
• the use of chimineas
• the use of outdoor stoves and portable campfire apparatus that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved, or if the flame is longer than 15 centimetres

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• stubble or grass burning of any size
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of burn barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for target practice)

The BC Wildfire Service thanks the public for continued support, vigilance and co-operation during this challenging fire season.

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

For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, call 1 888 3-FOREST, or visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

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

Quick Facts:

• The fog zone is a two-kilometre strip of land 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. A map of the fog zone is available online: http://ow.ly/bCJc30caIul
• A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online: http://ow.ly/znny309kJv5
• A video showing how to safely light and maintain a campfire is available online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma399AtcEQk&