INFORMATION BULLETIN

2010FOR0145-001011 Aug. 31, 2010

Ministry of Forests and Range Coastal Fire Centre

 

CAMPFIRES PERMITTED THROUGHOUT THE COASTAL FIRE CENTRE

 

PARKSVILLE – Effective at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010, campfires will be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

 

Although campfires, fireworks and tiki torches are now permitted, open fires of any other description remain prohibited, including burning barrels.

 

Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres wide or 0.5 metres tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool, such as a shovel, or at least eight litres of water nearby to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving an area.

 

The rescinding of the campfire ban applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have open fire bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

 

Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $345. Should a wildfire occur as a result of recklessness, a person can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

 

The Coastal Fire Centre is responsible for wildfire response across about 2.1 million hectares of land. Geographically, the 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 to Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

 

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, please call *5555 on your cellphone or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555. For more information on open fire prohibitions, area restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

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Media Contact:

Donna MacPherson Fire Information Officer 250 951-4209

 

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