The provincial government is taking a bite out of the size of your campfires this summer in the hopes of taking a bit out of the forest fire season.
New regulations will go into effect on July 1 that will shrink the size of legal campfires as a way to hopefully reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.
"As we head into peak camping season, I want to remind people that more than 850 fires resulted from careless human behaviour in 2009," said Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell. "That number must come down. "We want people to enjoy the great outdoors, but not at the cost of public safety."
Under the new regulations, campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter, or approximately a foot-and-a-half by a foot-and-a-half. Previously, campfires were permitted to a maximum size of one-metre by one-metre.
The new rules also require campers to build a fireguard around their fires by scraping down to the dirt and clearing away potentially flammable debris, such as twigs, leaves and needles. A shovel or at least eight litres of water must be stored nearby to extinguish the fire.
Provincial staff will begin educating campers about the new regulations during the Canada Day long weekend, giving people an opportunity to learn about the changes. As summer progresses, failure to comply with the new rules will result in a $345 fine. An additional $345 fine will be levied for campfires lit during a ban.
"Make no mistake. If we catch people being careless and causing wildfires this summer, we will aggressively pursue penalties for those responsible," said Bell. "The message we want to deliver is that we take wildfires seriously -and so should you."
An advertising campaign has been launched to reinforce the province's zero tolerance for people who start wildfires. A new website, www.firesafebc.ca, is also available that encapsulates all provincial information related to wildfire activity, campfire bans, health advisories and evacuation orders.
Since April 1, fire crews have responded to 310 fires across the province, of which 260 were human-caused. Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years on prison.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cell phone, or toll-free to 1-800-663-5555.
