A fire ban has been established for parts of the Coastal Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public, the Ministry of Forests announced last week.
The ban prohibits burning any material smaller than two metres in height and three metres in width. It also prohibits burning stubble or grass over an area less than 2,000 square metres. The ban does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
This ban covers all B.C. Parks, as well as Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have open fire bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with local authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.
The ban went into effect May 16 and will be in place until Oct. 3 or until further notice.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire ban may be fined $345 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail.
For more information, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website at: www.bcwildfire.ca.