A campfire ban is in now in effect for much of the coastal region of B.C.
Effective at noon today, all open burning is prohibited in all areas of the Coastal Fire Centre except the coastal area known as the “fog zone” and Haida Gwaii.
Meanwhile, campfires remain prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre west of the Fraser River, due to dry conditions and higher fire danger ratings.
This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
The prohibition was enacted at noon on July 25.
All campfires are also prohibited throughout the entire Kamloops Fire Centre as of July 16.
Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for up to $345.
Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness may be fined up to $1 million, spend up to three years in prison and be held accountable for associated firefighting costs.
Provincial fire information officer Navi Saini says there are 131 active fires burning in B.C. right now, mostly in the Kamloops, Southeast and Prince George fire centre boundaries.
“We had a bit of a break for about a week,” says Saini. “But hot, dry conditions have returned to many areas of the province.”
Around 50 new fires were sparked since Wednesday.
The danger rating across much of the province is high to extreme, according to Saini. But not as extreme as seen in the beginning of July.
Fire officers are expecting the danger rating to continue climbing as hot weather conditions persist.
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