B.C. campfire ban coming into effect Wednesday
Posted June 28, 2021 4:44 pm.
Last Updated June 28, 2021 6:33 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — British Columbia’s seasonal campfire ban is coming into effect on Wednesday at noon, and will remain in effect until at least mid-October.
The province is bringing in the ban due to record-breaking high temperatures in the forecast, along with lower than average precipitation.
Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the province of British Columbia. pic.twitter.com/co5HJq6nTM
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) June 28, 2021
“These conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks,” says a statement from the BC Wildfire Service.
“Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province. The B.C. government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.”
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A campfire is defined by size, not location — so any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide” qualifies.
Category 2 and 3 burning restrictions are already in place, which covers things like fireworks, sky lanterns, chimineas, and tiki torches.
Penalties for violating these band range from a $1,150 ticket to jail time. If found to have sparked a wildfire, the person who violated the burning ban can be billed for “all firefighting and associated costs.”
