On Friday, July 3, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, were prohibited throughout the majority of the province, as per an announcement by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

This prohibition, which includes the Kootenays, will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

This extraordinary step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. Unseasonably hot and dry weather is being experienced around the province and any preventable, human-caused fires divert critical personnel and resources from other incidents. The BC Wildfire Service is responding to over 160 active fires in the province and extremely hot weather remains in the forecast.

This ban applies to:

– Open fires of any size, including campfires;

– The use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches;

– Burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description;

– The use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice); and

– The use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems).

This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 centimetres or less. The use of this equipment may be prohibited locally and at a later time if deemed necessary so check “current fire bans” online at: www.bcwildfire.ca

The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet the conditions noted above is prohibited.

This prohibition covers 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.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of

$10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

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

Lead image: Wildfire burning near Baynes Lake, July 4/5. RDEK image

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