Campfire Ban and BC Forest Fire Information
Date: July 21, 2010A campfire ban will come into effect on Friday, July 23, 2010, in the coastal region of British Columbia. The forest fire rating has increased high to extreme levels and the ban on campfires is meant to protect forest areas from wildfires caused by humans.
The risk of forest fires has been steadily increasing over the last several years and the BC Government has stepped up enforcement and penalties for anyone who starts a forest fire. New regulations for campfires in British Columbia include:
- Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 meters X 0.5 meters (1.5 ft X 1.5 ft).
- Before starting your campfire, you must remove twigs, leaves, needles, and other potentially flammable material from the area around the campfire.
- You must have a tool to extinguish the fire. (ie. shovel, at least 8 litres of water)
These new laws apply to all camp grounds in British Columbia. Individuals caught breaking these laws will face a $345 fine and anyone caught intentionally setting a forest fire could face a fine of up to 1 million dollars or 3 years in jail.
As we continue to experience warm weather in British Columbia this summer, be sure to check the Wildfires of Note from the BC Government website and be sure to be extra cautious to avoid damaging our sensitive and beautiful forests.