It appears that some B.C. residents and visitors are still not getting the message about campfire bans.
Over the weekend, B.C. Conservation officers conducted campfire ban patrols across several regions and said that, unfortunately, numerous illegal fires were discovered.
In all, 19 violation tickets were issued, according to the organization, totalling $21,850 in fines.
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“Claiming you didn’t know about the campfire ban is not an acceptable excuse,” they posted in an update.
Anyone who is camping or enjoying the outdoors this summer should check with local authorities to find out if there are any bans in place in the area.
- Activity picks up on the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, Peachland
- Summerland residents return to neighbourhoods forever changed by the Bald Range wildfire
- ‘Generations of knowledge’ to be shared as SPSA enters MOU with First Nations councils
- About 150 structures damaged, destroyed by Bald Range wildfire, as most of Summerland returns
The BC Wildfire Service has put campfire bans in place in the Cariboo Fire Centre, parts of the Coastal Fire Centre, the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Southeast Fire Centre.
There are currently 136 active wildfires burning in B.C.
Claiming that you didn’t know there was a fire ban is no excuse. Anyone should be aware of the current vulnerability of our forests. In my mind, these are selfish people. They want a camp fire, period – no questions asked, no responsibility taken. The fine should be steeper. Maybe then the message will be heard.
Seriously, how are people not seeing the news. The fine should be how much $$ it would cost to employ firefighters and use resources if it had gotten out of control. Otherwise, no one listens to fire bans. Let’s just officially be done with being able to light fires while camping. Iceland for example has no fire pits or facilities for building fires. It just takes a few to ruin it for everyone else.
Names please…
Some lost soul sterilizing water to prevent giardia?