Building a fire this long weekend? Be careful warns BC Wildfire Service

With a forecast of dry and warm weather for the long weekend, B.C. Wildfire Service are urging people to be careful with open fires.

They say dry conditions significantly rise the danger of wildfires.

READ MORE: BC Wildfire Service dealing with first wildfires of 2016

Here are some of the recommendations listed on their website on how to be campfire-safe:

• Have a shovel or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
• Campfires can not be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
• Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material.
• Maintain a one-metre fireguard around the campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, kindling, etc.) have been removed.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Anyone found breaking the rules may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay a penalty of $10,000 or if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.

READ MORE: Wet weather dampens B.C. wildfire costs

“One careless mistake with a campfire or an improperly discarded cigarette could spark a serious wildfire and threaten B.C. communities and resources. Play it safe this weekend and follow the rules,” reads a statement from Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Steve Thomson.

The website says campfires are currently permitted in all of the province’s six fire centres, but Category 2 and 3 open fires are forbidden in many parts of B.C.

Local governments may also have their own restrictions in place so B.C. Wildfire Services recommends checking in advance.