B.C. to impose seasonal open burning, fireworks ban in coastal regions

A campfire is pictured in the Broken Group Islands off the west coast of Vancouver Island in this undated image. (shutterstock)

The British Columbia government is imposing a seasonal fire ban this week, prohibiting most open burning in the most populous parts of the province.

The ban takes effect at noon on Friday, outlawing fireworks and fires larger than a half-metre in size in the province’s Coastal Fire Centre, which covers Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island.

Haida Gwaii is exempted from the Category 2 fire ban, meaning fires smaller than two metres high and three metres wide are still permitted under the current order.

“This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce human-caused wildfires and for public safety,” the B.C. Wildfire Service said in a statement Wednesday announcing the ban.

“This prohibition does not apply to Category 1 campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.”

B.C. enters heatwave

The fire prohibition was announced as the province prepares to enter a brief heatwave Wednesday.

Environment Canada says a ridge of high pressure will bring unseasonably warm air into the province from the south, prompting the weather office to issue a special weather statement for a portion of the Interior region.

The statement says daytime high temperatures will rise into the low to mid 30s near Kamloops before cooler air arrives Thursday.

The Coastal Fire Centre open-burning ban will remain in place until Oct. 31 unless otherwise rescinded by the province.

Campfire fines

Anyone caught violating the ban can be fined $1,150 and ordered to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000. If convicted in court, penalties can reach up to $100,000 and one year in jail, according to the province.

“If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs,” the statement said.

There are currently 45 wildfires burning in B.C., including 17 fires considered out of control, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.