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Campfire ban lifted for B.C. coast

Late-summer B.C. campers can now have a campfire in some parts of the province. The B.C. Wildfire Service lifted the campfire ban for the Coastal Fire Centre on Sept. 18. Campfires remain banned in the Kamloops, Cariboo and Southeast Fire Centres.

Late-summer B.C. campers can now have a campfire in some parts of the province.

The B.C. Wildfire Service lifted the campfire ban for the Coastal Fire Centre on Sept. 18. Campfires remain banned in the Kamloops, Cariboo and Southeast Fire Centres.

The service notes that fireworks and firecrackers, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets and burn barrels and cages remain banned.

The ban on open fires larger than a campfire — or larger than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high — also remains in place in the Coast Fire Centre, except for the fog zone on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The Coastal Fire Centre extends from the southern tip of Vancouver Island, north to northern end of Haida Gwaii, and from parts of the central coast south to U.S. border, just east of Chilliwack and Abbotsford.

Local municipalities may still have burning restrictions in place, the wildfire service notes.

“Some parts of southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands have received very little rainfall in recent weeks,” the wildfire service said in a media release.

More than 11,700 square kilometres have burned due to wildfires since April 1, many of which were human caused. The wildfire service has spent more than half a billion dollars fighting fires this year, which has been the biggest wildfire season on record.

A provincial state of emergency was lifted on Friday.

People building a fire should take care to build their campfire in a fire pit or rock ring and make sure the area around the fire is clear of flammable debris, like paper, sticks and twigs. A campfire should be at least three metres away from trees, shrubs and structures.

A campfire should never be left alone and a large amount of water — the wildfire service suggests eight litres — or a shovel for dumping dirt should be nearby.

Always make sure your fire is completely extinguished before going to sleep or leaving your campsite. Ashes should be cold to the touch.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a mobile device.

For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, call 1-888-3-FOREST or visit www.bcwildfire.ca.