Starting on Friday fire bans will be implemented across the Coastal Fire Centre, which covers all of Vancouver Island.
Category 2 and 3 fires will be banned starting at noon on Friday in all of the Coastal Fire Centre.
Category 1 fires, or campfires, will still be allowed after the ban on Friday, however, some jurisdictions have a permanent ban on campfires so residents are encouraged to check with local governments before lighting any fires.
In addition to category 2 and 3 fires, fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels or cages, and air curtain burners are banned.
A campfire is defined as a fire that is a maximum of half-metre high by a half-metre wide. The ban also excludes cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
“Anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire,” Coastal Fire Centre said in a news release.
Anyone found to be contravening the ban can receive a ticket of $1,150 or be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000. If convicted in court, the person can be fined up to $100,000 and/or be sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention lead to a wildfire, the person may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
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A map of the Coastal Fire Centre.
Laura Brougham
