Open Fire Restrictions 2012

Fire prohibition extended in Coastal Fire Centre
PARKSVILLE – Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, the existing Category 2 open fire and fireworks prohibition in the Coastal Fire Centre is being extended. It will now remain in place until Oct. 15, 2012 or until the prohibition order is rescinded.

Specifically this ban applies to:

• the burning of any material, piled or unpiled, smaller than two metres in height and three metres in width, including burning barrels
• the use of fireworks and burn barrels of any size of description
• stubble or grass fires over an area less than 2,000 square metres

Category 3 open burning, used for resource management reasons, is still allowed.
However, a person conducting an open burn, may only conduct one at a time and must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1-888 797-1717.

The ban does not prohibit campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. People lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from the campfire area, and they must have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire.

More information about open burning and bans can be found at: http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp\

This ban covers all BC Parks and Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire ban may be fined $345 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

As warm, dry conditions persist throughout the region, Wildfire Management Branch would like to remind the public to be vigilant.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, dial *5555 on your cellphone or call toll-free to 1 800 663-5555.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to http://www.bcwildfire.ca.