The campfire ban in parts of the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction have been lifted.
As of noon Wednesday, campfires are permitted in selected parts of Vancouver Island — Strathcona Park, the area north of Nootka Sound and the area north of Hindoo Creek, near Buckley Bay.
Recent precipitation prompted the move, as well as a forecast for additional precipitation.
Campfires are also allowed in the “fog zone,” a 3.2-kilometre-wide stretch of land on the west coast of Vancouver Island running from Owen Point in the Port Renfrew area to the eastern boundary of the District of Port Hardy.
Bans remain in place for all other types of open fires, including backyard burning, land-clearing burning piles, fireworks and tiki torches.
Anyone found illegally burning could receive a $345 ticket, an administrative penalty of $10,000, or, if convicted, fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail.
The prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated and ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. Briquettes cannot be used in campfire rings.
The ban covers B.C. Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply where a local government has wildfire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.
For more information, go to BCWildfire.ca.
