BC Wildfire is implementing a campfire ban throughout the Cariboo region for July 12 as the Cariboo Fire Centre is dealing with multiple new starts.
Dry lightning on July 9 overnight has the fire centre facing 28 new fires in the region on July 10 so far.
The prohibition on Category 1 campfires will come into effect at 12 p.m. on July 12 and will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre as well as the Tsilhqot'in (Xeni Gwet'in) Declared Title Area, and will remain in effect until 12 p.m. on Friday, November 1, or until the order is rescinded.
A Category 1 campfire ban is defined as "any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide." In addition to the ban, activities such as fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description, binary exploding targets, tiki and similar kinds of torches, chimineas and air curtain burners will be prohibited.
This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves, which is defined under the Wildfire Regulation as "a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat, or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15cm tall", however, the press release notes that campfire apparatus that do not meet these specifications are prohibited.
Major municipalities which are included in the ban include 100 Mile House, Quesnel and Williams Lake.
In the press release, the Cariboo Fire Centre said that camping is a long-standing tradition in the province and that any decision taken to implement a campfire ban is taken seriously. This ban comes as similar bans are being imposed province-wide starting this Friday.
Category 2 and 3 fires have been prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre since March 28. Those found in violation of an open-burning prohibition could be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay up to $10,000 in an "administrative penalty", or if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to a year in jail. In addition, if said contravention leads to or contributes to a wildfire, the person might be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
Those wanting to report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open-burning violation can call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
