Fire ban for coastal B.C. to start Friday

The provincial government is set to enact a ban on open fires across coastal B.C. on Friday.

BC Wildfire Service says, effective at 12 p.m. on May 17, most open burning activities will be prohibited everywhere from the Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii until the end of October.

The BC Wildfire Service says the ban will limit “Category 2” and “Category 3” open fires to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

That means no larger fires, fireworks, or things like sky lanterns will be allowed. But it doesn’t apply to small campfires that are a half metre high by a half metre wide or smaller.

The ban applies to all public and private land. The service is asking residents to check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Anyone found violating the ban may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and possibly sentenced to one year in jail.