B.C. has issued over 100 fire-related fines so far this season
Posted August 5, 2021 7:02 pm.
Last Updated August 5, 2021 7:03 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Conservation officers and the BC Wildfire Service have issued 101 fines this season to people violating the province’s fire bans and restrictions so far this year, compared to 59 during all of 2020.
Nearly 80 tickets issued in 2021 involve bans or restrictions on the use of fire. The worst season on record was 2017 when 309 violators were caught.
Penalties for violating these bans range from a $1,150 ticket to jail time. If found to have sparked a wildfire, the person who violated the burning ban can be billed for “all firefighting and associated costs.”
Conservation officers and @BCGovFireInfo have issued 101 fines this season compared to 59 last year.
The worst season on record was 2017 when 309 violators were caught.
Nearly 80 tickets issued so far in 2020 involve bans/restrictions re: lighting fires.#bcwildfires @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/dgWrDJHRUE— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) August 5, 2021
The ban on campfires came into effect on June 30 amid record-breaking temperatures and a lack of precipitation in the forecast. Since then, wildfires have raged through the province, prompting a provincial state of emergency to be declared and then extended through Aug. 17. As of Thursday, there were 293 wildfires burning across B.C. There are more than 60 evacuation orders in the province affecting residents and businesses in roughly 4,200 properties who have been told to leave as fire encroaches on their land or on their exits to safety.
While the majority of wildfires are caused by lightning, provincial officials have urged people to do their part to prevent human-caused fires to help ease the pressure on strained firefighting crews.
“The people on the front lines of this year’s wildfire response are doing everything in their power to protect B.C. communities and keep British Columbians safe. Let’s all show our support for them by ensuring that our activities don’t spark any new wildfires,” said Minister of Forests, Katrine Conroy, on Tuesday.
With files from the Canadian Press
