Ban issued for all campfires, fireworks, open burning throughout B.C.

A ban has now been issued on all campfires, fireworks and open burning throughout the entire province.

The ban went into effect at noon on July 3 and will remain in place indefinitely. It applies to B.C. parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department.

Campfires and fires were still allowed in the area known as the ‘Fog Zone’ along the western coast of Vancouver Island, however the ban has now been extended to include that area. The complete ban will go into effect on Wednesday at noon.

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Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced in a release that this “extraordinary step” is being taken to prevent human-caused wildfires and to protect public safety. Crews around the province are responding to more than 150 active fires and as the hot and dry weather continues, the risk will only increase.

The goal is to cut down on preventable, human-caused fires that divert critical personnel and resources from other incidents.

This ban applies to:

• open fires of any size, including campfires;
• the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches;
• burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description;
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice); and
• the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems).

This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 centimetres or less.

People using these stoves should still check any local fire bans however.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

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