Open fires restricted within Southeast Fire Centre
By Contributor
Effective at noon July 5, 2010 all medium and large-sized open fires are prohibited within the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. Specifically this prohibits:
- Burning waste, slash or other material, whether piled or unpiled, that is larger than 0.5 metres in height or 0.5 metres in width.
- More than two piles of waste, slash or other burning, whether piled or unpiled, that are of any size.
- Stubble or grass burning over any area.
- Fireworks of any size or description.
- Burning barrels.
The ban doesn’t apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to open fires, including campfires, that are a half-metre by a half-metre or smaller. Please ensure campfires aren’t lit or kept burning during windy conditions, that adequate tools, water and people are on hand to contain a fire and that it is fully extinguished before leaving the area.
This ban covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but doesn’t 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.
The Southeast Fire Centre is currently experiencing dry conditions and elevated fire hazard. Human-caused wildfires continue to draw resources away from unpreventable wildfires caused by lightning.
Anyone contravening an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $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 fire fighting and associated costs. This ban will be in place until the public is otherwise notified.
The Southeast Fire Centre encompasses the area extending from the US Border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands or Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C./Alberta Border in the east. This includes all of the Arrow-Boundary, Kootenay Lake, Rocky Mountain and Columbia Forest Districts.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire please call *5555 on your cell or phone toll-free 1-800-663-5555. For more information on open fire prohibitions, area restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.
