The province is moving to enact tougher penalties for people who violate burning bans or interfere with efforts to put out wildfires, including flying drones in fire zones.
The Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Statutes Amendment Act (Bill 12) would increase fines and penalties under the Wildfire Act. It also includes changes to a host of other acts that fall under the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Minister Steve Thomson said when the bill was introduced March 10 in Victoria that, in all, there will be significantly higher penalties for at least 19 different violations under the Wildfire Act.
If the bill is passed, the fine for failing to comply with fire restrictions will go from $345 (including a $45 victim surcharge) to $1,150 (including a $150 victim surcharge).
Under the current legislation, people found to have started fires face fines of up to $100,000 and jail terms of up to a year. They could also be liable for costs tied to fighting the fire. Those penalties won’t change.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons (NDP) said he wants to see the tougher penalties backed up with more resources, and education for enforcement.
“I don’t know if this is maybe a good get-tough photo-op or if they’re sincere, because if they’re sincere they’ll back up their talk,” he said. “Government should consider public education as prevention.… We’d rather people didn’t do stupid things more than we just want to catch them.”
Typically anywhere from 30 to 40 per cent of B.C.’s wildfires are human caused, including the Old Sechelt Mine fire, that started July 2, 2015, and burned through 423 hectares (1,045 acres). Although it has been ruled “human caused,” the BC Wildfire Service told Coast Reporter this week the investigation remains open.
The province has said the cost of dealing with wildfires during the 2015 season was more than $278 million.
