BC Information Bulletin - Labour Day long weekend in the Coastal Fire Centre

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has issued the following information for residents of the Coastal Fire Centre:

The Coastal Fire Centre area still has open burning and campfire prohibitions in effect. Category 2 and 3 open fires, including campfires, are prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre's jurisdiction, except in Haida Gwaii and the "Fog Zone", to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. 

Where open fires are prohibited, the following activities are also prohibited:

• open fires of woody debris in outdoor stoves
• tiki torches, fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
  • the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice)

Enforcement officers will be patrolling areas with a history of open burn violations to issue tickets to people participating in any prohibited activity. A ticket for “lighting, fuelling or use of fire against regulations” carries a fine of $1,150 and would apply to every person in the vicinity of the fire.

At this time the Coastal Fire Centre does not have any Forest Service Road Use closures or Forest Use Restrictions in effect that temporarily restrict the public from using the back country. 

The Cariboo, Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres do have restrictions. Before proceeding into the back country anywhere in BC, the public is encouraged to check www.bcwildfire.ca for latest closure information and prohibitions in place to help assist in wildfire prevention.

Prevention means stopping wildfires before they start.  Discarded cigarette butts, campfires, target practice, binary explosives, hot exhaust pipes coming into contact with dry grass and vegetation, power tools (such as chainsaws), Tiki torches and even discarded glass can all ignite a wildfire. 

It is important to exercise caution when in the outdoors, not only when off-roading in the backcountry, but also in using tools and handling, storing and disposing of materials and fuels.

• Do not have a campfire while there is a prohibition place.
• Do not discard smoking materials. Always use interior ashtrays or a bottle of water to extinguish the cigarette.
• Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) can produce a significant amount of heat from their exhaust systems. This heat can be enough to ignite a wildfire. Avoid operating any OVR in tall grass and dry vegetation when the weather is hot and dry.
• Target practice should be limited to sanctioned ranges.
• Be careful with firearms in forested areas, some types of ammunition have been known to start wildfires.

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.  A map of the area can be found here.

The public is encouraged to use forest and range lands responsibly and report any contraventions or crimes to the Province’s toll-free, 24-hour, Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877 952-7277.

You can reach the Coastal Fire Centre at 250-951-4209.  

September 1, 2017