Going camping over the long weekend? Remember the rules around campfire safety.
Although large-scale open burning is now prohibited in many regions of the province, small, contained campfires are currently permitted in all six B.C. fire centres - but care should be taken.
Here are some tips from the B.C. wildfire management branch about campfire use:
- 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, like grass and kindling, 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.
Also, ensure that cigarette butts are properly extinguished and are not tossed away carelessly.
"It's important to respect the use of fire," Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson said. "Once you start a campfire, you are legally responsible for making sure it doesn't escape and that it is completely extinguished before you leave the area."
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition 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 firefighting and associated costs.
The latest on open burning prohibitions can be found at www.bcwildfire.ca.
To report a wildfire or an unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or call *5555 on your cellphone.
