PARKSVILLE—The (Category 1) campfire prohibition and the Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibition will be lifted in the Coastal Fire Centre starting at 12 p.m., noon, Pacific Daylight Time, on Wednesday, September 27, 2022. This means that all open burning will once again be permitted within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Other activities which were previously banned, but will now be permitted include:

• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches
• The use of chimineas
• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating
• Fireworks, including firecrackers
• Sky Lanterns
• Binary Exploding Targets
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
• Air Curtain Burners

Regarding Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, this change will allow the following activities:

“category 2 open fire” which means an open fire, other than a campfire, that

1. burns material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
2. burns material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
3. burns stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha

“category 3 open fire” which means an open fire that burns

1. material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width
2. material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width
3. one or more windrows
4. stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha

For a map of Fire Centre boundaries, please visit: https://ow.ly/bIgt50PPMgF

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online: openburningregs_2022update.pdf

Although fire danger ratings have declined in the region due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, the public is strongly encouraged to continue exercising extreme caution with any campfire. It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with regulations. Before lighting any fire, check with local government authorities to see if any local burning restrictions are in place.

Reminders about campfires:

• A campfire is defined as any fire smallerthan 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide;
• Never light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly, and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material;
• Maintain a fireguard around your campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, leaves, kindling, etc.) have been removed right down to the soil;
• Never leave a fire unattended;
• Make sure that any fire is completely extinguished, and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires. Always practice safe, responsible fire use where permitted.

• To report a wildfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
• Check with your local government or other jurisdictional authorities before lighting a fire of any size since they may have their own restrictions in place.

Learn More:

People can follow the latest wildfire news:

• on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app
• on Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• on Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Contact:

Fire Information Officer

BC Wildfire Service

Coastal Fire Centre 250-951-4209

PARKSVILLE – Effective at noon Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, June 8, 2023, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, except for the Haida Gwaii Forest District. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise in an enactment (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Always check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in effect. All categories of Open Fire use are still permitted in Haida Gwaii Forest District.

This prohibition will be in place until Tuesday, October 31, 2023, or until the order is rescinded.

A map of the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/xuuw50OHiff

On June 8, 2023 the types of open fires listed below are prohibited in the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District:

• Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation; and,
• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.

In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:

• Fireworks;
• Sky Lanterns;
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description;
• Binary Exploding Targets;
• Air curtain burners;
• Tiki and similar kind of torches; and,
• Chimineas.

This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.

To learn more about the different categories of open burning, visit the Open Burning webpage.

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.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii.

To report a wildfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

Learn More:

Follow the latest wildfire news:

• on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices
• on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• on Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Contact:

Fire Information Officer

BC Wildfire Service

Coastal Fire Centre 250-951-4209