Open fire prohibition to be restricted beginning June 23

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online here.

"Category 2 open fire" which means an open fire, other than a campfire, that:

• Burns material in one pile not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width;
• Burns material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width, or;
• 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:

• Material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width;
• Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 m in height or 3 m in width;
• One or more windrows, or;
• Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha.

The prohibition applies to all public and private land unless specified otherwise, and will remain in effect until the public is otherwise notified. A map of the affected areas is available online here.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all of 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.

Also prohibited are the activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):

• Fireworks;
• Sky Lanterns;
• Binary Exploding Targets;
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description; and,
• Air Curtain Burners

This prohibition does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at gov.bc.ca/openfireregs.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, 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 ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open fire violation, 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 visit bcwildfire.ca.