The Coastal Fire Centre has confirmed to Mountain FM that effective at noon on Wednesday July 18th all areas within their jurisdiction with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the ‘Fog Zone’ will have a fire ban.

The Sea to Sky and Sunshine Coast are both included in the ban, which means camp fires along with category 2 and 3 fires are no longer allowed. Category 2 fires are 2 metres high by 3 metres wide and include stubble or grass burning. Category 3 fires are any fires larger than 2 metres high by 3 metres wide, include stubble or grass burning and 3 or more burning piles.

Coastal Fire Centre Fire Information Officer Natasha Broznitsky says they are encouraging anyone who is out in the forest that could cause a wildfire to be very careful; “We want people to dispose of cigarettes properly, not park in new areas of long grass with ATVs”. Broznitsky says that currently in the Coastal Fire Centre the danger rating is “high”.

During campfire prohibitions, only a CSA or ULC approved portable campfire apparatus can be used, and the flame height must not exceed 15 centimetres.

Those who chose to ignore the ban could be fined up to $1,150.

 

 

Filed under: BC Wildfire Service, Fire Ban, Gibsons, Pemberton, Sea to Sky, Sechelt, Squamish, Sunshine Coast, Whistler