Campfires will be prohibited across the Coastal Fire Centre region as of 12 p.m. Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) announced on Tuesday.
The ban applies to any open fire “not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width”, in Categories 1, 2, and 3.
This also includes fireworks, sky lanterns, and wood-fired devices, such as hot tubs, pizza ovens, and controlled air incinerators. However, it does not apply to outdoor stoves such as barbecue grills.
The measure is being implemented to prevent the risk of human-caused wildfires in the province.
“Because of the existing indices, which have been up ticking our fire danger rating to moderate to high within the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction, and with anticipated indices and no rain in that short-term forecast, we will be implementing the open fire prohibitions,” said Fire Information Officer Julia Caranci in an interview with 1130 NewsRadio.
The ban comes earlier than in previous years due to unusually warm weather and an ongoing drought in many areas.
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“This is a bit earlier than we would see normally for the campfire prohibition, the Category 1,” Caranci added.
“But as everyone who lives in this area is aware, we have been in a warming and drying trend for about three weeks now.”
Due to the summer-like temperatures, Squamish has now been upgraded to a high fire danger category by the BCWS.
Residents are encouraged to be on the lookout for any signs of wildfires in the community, as the elevated risk level means that forest fuels are very dry and new fires may start easily.
The other fire regions in the province, such as the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Prince George Fire Centre, have already banned campfires and are extending those to Category 2 and 3 as well.
BCWS bans extend to all land outside of municipal boundaries and within when it covers a park, wildlife management areas, and privately managed forests.
The BCWS says that the ban will be in place until Oct. 31, if not lifted sooner by authorities.
The Coastal Fire Centre region encompasses all of the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range, including the Lower Mainland, all of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Pemberton, and stretches as north as Bella Bella.