Image: Supplied by Pexels / There will be a ban on campfires at B.C. parks and campgrounds in the Lower Mainland starting tomorrow (Aug. 4).

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Campfire ban

Campfires at Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island campgrounds banned starting August 4

Aug 3, 2022 | 2:00 PM

CHILLIWACK — Starting tomorrow (Aug. 4) at noon, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Chilliwack Forest District and Lower Mainland.

The BC Wildfire Service announced the comprehensive ban to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands within the Coastal Fire Centre, unless specified otherwise in a local government bylaw. Campfires will still be allowed in Haida Gwaii.

The specific forest districts with a campfire prohibition include Chilliwack Forest District, which stretches from Chilliwack to Vancouver, as well as the Sea to Sky Forest District, Sunshine Coast Forest District, and forest districts encompassing all of Vancouver Island.

Image: Supplied by B.C. Wildfire Service / The areas in red in the Lower Mainland have a campfire ban, as announced by the B.C. government.

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The prohibition does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has wildfire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. However, the public is asked to check with local government authorities to ensure they are following local bylaws before lighting any fire.

This prohibition will be in place until October 28, 2022, or until the order is rescinded.

The B.C. government has also prohibited fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels, burn cages of any size or description, and air curtain burners.

The campfire prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or portable campfire devices that use briquettes, liquid, or gaseous fuel, provided they are CSA or ULC approved, and the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

Anyone who lights, fuels or uses an open fire when a fire prohibition is in place or fails to comply with an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, 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 subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free, or *5555 on a cell phone.