With hot and dry weather expected to continue in many parts of B.C. over the long weekend and well into next week, the provincial government is reminding the public to obey any campfire bans or open fire prohibitions.
If a campfire is permitted in your area, it's important to take the following safety precautions:
- Bring a shovel or keep at least eight litres of water nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
- Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 metres in diameter.
- Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires.
- You must maintain a one-metre fireguard around the campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, kindling, etc.) have been removed.
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes
are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.
- Motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle users should ensure that they are using an approved spark arrestor and avoid parking on grass or at sites where the exhaust system is near combustible material.
On average, nearly half of all wildfires are caused by human activity and can start from something as small as a carelessly discarded cigarette butt. And you may be held accountable for damages and fire suppression costs if your negligence results in a wildfire.
To find out if there are fire bans in your area, visit bcwildfire.ca.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
