A ban on backyard burning, open fires and fireworks will remain in effect until mid October due to continued hot, dry conditions on the south B.C. coast.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the Coastal Fire Centre extended the ban Friday after forecasters saw no predictable change in the weather before the end of September.
“Our forecasters are telling us they don’t see any kind of season-ending event as far as they can see and they’re looking at the end of September,” said Marg Drysdale, Coastal Fire Centre spokeswoman.
This prohibition is a Category 2 ban intended to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. The open-fire prohibition applies to burning of any waste, slash or other material (piled or unpiled) smaller than two metres in height and three metres in width; the burning of stubble or grass over an area less than 2,000 square metres; and the use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description.
The ban does not prohibit campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
This prohibition covers all B.C. Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest-fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department.
Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling 1-800-663-5555 toll free or *5555 on a cellphone.