Due to rising temperatures and dry forest conditions, the Coastal Fire Centre has announced a ban on campfires starting at noon on Saturday, June 27.
The ban includes the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound and covers all provincial parks, Crown lands and areas without local fire prevention bylaws in place.
All of the fire departments on the Sunshine Coast will be following the ban within their fire protection districts, with the ban starting Monday at noon in District of Sechelt and noon Saturday in all other areas, Sunshine Coast Regional District emergency program coordinator Bill Elsner said Friday.
With Canada Day coming up, Elsner stressed that fireworks are also included in the ban.
A public notice issued Friday by the Roberts Creek Fire Department noted the ban includes “all fires whether for warmth, cooking or ceremonial purposes and all beach fires, burning barrels, fireworks, firecrackers and sky lanterns.”
The Coastal Fire Centre ban is in effect until further notice for areas south of Knight Inlet and most of Vancouver Island.
The ban does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves or barbecues that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, if the height of the flame is less than 15 cm.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning ban could be issued a $345 ticket, 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, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to www.bcwildfire.ca
