The near province-wide ban on campfires includes everyone's backyard.
"Yes we can confirm campfire ban is on within the municipality," Prince George Fire Rescue Chief Cliff Warner said in an email to the Citizen.
Enforcing the ban is largely a complaint-driven process. Anyone who comes across a campfire is urged to call 250-561-7664 as soon as possible.
"It is very difficult to deal with these complaints after the fact," Warner said.
A crew will be sent out to investigate and, if the blaze is found to be in violation of the city's clean air bylaw, the property owners will be asked to extinguish the blaze. If they refuse or if there’s no one around, then the fire department will extinguish the fire.
According to the clean-air bylaw, a ban on so-called recreational fires comes into effect whenever an air quality advisory is in effect. If PGFR feels compelled to pursue the matter, fines for violating the bylaw range from $2,000 to $10,000, plus the cost of prosecution.
"The fire department strives for compliance and to work on non-confrontational resolutions where possible," Warner said.
If you have a strong urge to enjoy a campfire, Haida Gwaii will be your only option in B.C.
The ban covers the rest of the province and includes camping in provincial parks. To report a violation in those instances, you're asked to call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free, *5555 on a cell phone or directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, during campfire prohibitions, only CSA-rated or ULC-rated outdoor stoves or portable campfire apparatuses used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambience, that burn charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and have a flame height less than 15 centimetres tall, may be used.
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, may be 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.
