Effective at noon on Wednesday, June 30, campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the province of British Columbia.
This prohibition will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2021, or until the order is rescinded.
A campfire is defined as any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
In addition to campfires, Category 2, and Category 3 open fires, the following activities are also prohibited:
The use of fireworks
The use of sky lanterns
The use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
The use of binary exploding targets
The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches
The use of chimineas
The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriter Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating
The use of air curtain burners in Cariboo, Coastal, Northwest, Prince George and Southeast fire centres
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000.
If convicted in court, the person may be fined up to $100,000 or sentenced to one year in jail.
If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
