Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue announced that most open burning activities have been prohibited on Salt Spring Island, following a coordinated press release covering all areas within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction as of noon on Friday, May 30.
The burn ban so far does not apply to small campfires — those a half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller — nor to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. Firefighters emphasized however that anyone lighting a campfire must apply for a fire permit — and maintain a fireguard, by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and having a hand tool (or at least eight litres of water) available nearby to properly extinguish the fire.
Specifically, this prohibition refers to the following activities:
“Category 2 open fire” (backyard and incinerator burning)
“Category 3 open fire” (machine pile)
Also prohibited are the activities listed below (per Wildfire Act, Section 12):
Fireworks;
Sky Lanterns;
Binary Exploding Targets;
Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description; and,
Air Curtain Burners.
Officials said the prohibition is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. This prohibition will be in place until Oct. 31, 2025, or until the order is rescinded.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to bcwildfire.ca or saltspringfire.com/burn-restrictions.