With hot, dry weather in the forecast, the provincial government's wildfire management branch is urging outdoor enthusiasts to be careful when it comes to campfires.
So far this season, the branch has responded to over 530 wildfires, over half of which were caused by people.
"Human-caused fires are preventable and tie up firefighting resources that could be used to deal with naturally occurring wildfires," the branch said in a press release. "Given the forecasted weather conditions, it is crucial for British Columbians and visitors to remain vigilant and prevent wildfires."
The branch offered the following tips to keep a campfire from turning into a disaster:
Have a shovel or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
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.
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. You may be held accountable for damages and fire suppression costs if your negligence results in a wildfire.
Anyone operating motorized vehicles in the backcountry must also exercise caution, since the heat from an exhaust pipe - particularly in tall, dry grass - could ignite a wildfire.
Anyone found in contravention of a fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $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, an unattended campfire or an open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or call *5555 on your cellphone.
