Campers hoping to bask by the fire and roast s'mores this summer may be out of luck.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations announced on Wednesday that all open burning fires would be prohibited, effective Thursday, in all areas of the Coastal Fire Centre, including the Pemberton Zone that encompasses both Porteau Cove and Alice Lake provincial campgrounds. The only exceptions from the ban are the "fog zone" and Haida Gwaii.
The ban applies to campfires and open burning of any size, including fires with a burn registration number and industrial burning, as well as the use of fireworks, burning barrels, Tiki torches and sky lanterns.
CSA-rated or UL C-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or portable campfires that use briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, are allowed as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
The ministry stated in the release that the ban is being implemented to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. The fire danger rating is currently "high" throughout most of the Coastal Fire Centre, with scattered pockets of "extreme," and with the current trend of warm and dry weather, as well as lightning-caused wildfires in the region, human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews needed to fight naturally occurring wildfires.
The prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments. The ministry is urging the public to check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.
Anyone found violating the open fire ban could face a $345 ticket, or if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the violation causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person could face a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The Coastal Fire Centre covers the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including South Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
