After a nearly summer-long ban, the prohibition on campfires was lifted at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 28 — although fire officials still urge extreme caution.
Campfires have been prohibited throughout the Gulf Islands and within the entire Coastal Fire Centre region since July 12; Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain banned, including the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels, burn cages and air curtain burners, officials said. Those restrictions are expected to remain in place until Oct. 31, unless conditions warrant rescinding the ban sooner.
Although the fire danger has declined in the Coastal Fire Centre due to recent rainfall and cooler, more seasonal temperatures, the public is strongly encouraged to continue exercising extreme caution with any campfire, according to the BC Wildfire Service; before lighting any fire, they added, check with local government authorities to see if any local burning restrictions are in place.
Campfires in B.C. are generally defined as smaller than a half-metre high and wide. Anyone who lights, fuels or uses an open fire when a fire prohibition is in place or fails to comply with an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, be 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 subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, according to the Coastal Fire Centre.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit bcwildfire.ca. The saltspringfire.com website has more local information, including a “cheat sheet” describing restrictions related to high-risk activities such as chainsawing and mechanical land clearing.