After a string of campfire related calls and requests for permits, Langford Fire Rescue is reminding residents about a province-wide fire ban.
“We’re a little concerned people aren’t quite understanding the ban,” said Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey.
After the City’s bylaw officers discovered three campfires in one night and a handful of residents requested campfire permits, the local department decided to post a reminder on Facebook, which prompted a number of questions of residents.
FB post
“We just want everyone to remain vigilante,” Aubrey said. Despite a few raindrops on Friday afternoon, he noted conditions are extremely dry and fires can spread very quickly. The recent fire on Sooke Road is a good reminder of just how quickly a small fire can get out of control.
“We hope that people adhere to the ban, it’s for everyone’s safety,” Aubrey said. “If it was safe to do so, we would.”
The provincial ban applies to all campfires, category 2 and 3 open fires, and the use of tiki torches, fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size, wood burning outdoor stoves, and binary exploding targets.
The prohibition does not include CSA approved cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, and propane fire pits.
“Nine times out of 10 it will be CSA approved,” noted Aubrey of devices sold in store. In fact it’s the law. But, he added,”we do see a lot of homemade stuff out there.”
Between July 15 and 17, more than 50 illegal campfires in the Coastal Fire Centre region were reported to the B.C. Wildfire Services, according to a news release. That includes the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, sea-to-sky area and the Sunshine Coast.
The fine for ignoring a fire ban is $1,150. If convicted in court, an additional fine can be up to $100,000 and a sentence of one year in jail.
If the fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
Did you know?
A campfire is defined as a fire smaller than half a metre high by half a metre wide.
A category two fire is one or two concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide. This category also include stubble or grass burning over an area less than 0.2 hectares.
Category three fires are any fires larger than two metres high by three metres wide, three or more concurrently burning piles, one or more burning windrows and stubble or grass burning over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
-With files from Ashley Wadhwani
