Campfires are banned in all areas of the lower Sunshine Coast and throughout BC’s Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction effective at noon on Thursday, June 8. Unless the order is rescinded, the ban will remain in place until Oct. 31.
The Coastal Fire Centre announced the ban on June 6. The Sunshine Coast Regional District communications department confirmed that all local fire protection jurisdictions are following the Centre’s lead.
Use of other flame-related equipment is also covered by the ban, including fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, tiki and other outdoor torches, chimineas, burn barrels or cages and air curtain burners.
Permitted is use of outdoor stoves that are CSA-rated or ULC-rated for cooking, heat or ambiance, as long as they burn charcoal briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel and produce a flame less than 15 cm tall.
The centre’s announcement read, “This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
“Anyone who lights, fuels or uses an open fire when a fire prohibition is in place or fails to comply with an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, be 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 subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.”
In a press release issued by the SCRD at 11am on June 7, manager of protective services Matt Treit stated "We are seeing wildfires hit other parts of our Province right now and it’s hugely important that residents and visitors follow this ban to prevent the threat of wildfire on the Sunshine Coast,.
“While we are hopeful that we won’t have an emergency situation on the Sunshine Coast, we are prepared for a wildfire with a community wildfire protection plan for the Region.”
The release recommends that residents contact their local fire department if they require additional information. Last year, campfires were prohibited on the Coast as of Aug. 4 and in 2021 the ban was effective June 30.
