No more s'mores: campfire ban in most of western B.C. comes into effect Wednesday

All open burning, including campfires, will be banned in most of western B.C.effective Wednesdayat noon PT.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says the ban applies within the Coastal Fire Centre, which extends northwest from E.C. Manning Provincial Park to TweedsmuirSouth Provincial Parkand includes the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, theSunshine Coast andGulf Islands.

Haida Gwaiiand the two kilometre-wide band known as the fog zone along the west coast of Vancouver Island are currently exempt from the ban.

'Human-caused wildfires are entirely preventable'

The wildfire service says the ban is being put in place due to high temperatures and a short-term weather forecast that showsno rain.

Human-causedwildfires have been responsible for 69 per cent of wildfires in the Coastal Fire Centre since April1, the B.C. Wildfire Service said in a release.

"Human-caused wildfires are entirely preventable, and can divert critical firefighting resources away from naturally occurring wildfires," the release said.

All public and private land is subject to the ban, which also extends to the use of non-CSA or ULC approved stoves or campfire apparatuses, tiki torches, fireworksor sky lanterns.

The banwill remain in placeuntil Oct. 19, or until otherwise notified.

Anyone caught violating the prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. In the case that illegal burning causes or contributes to a wildfire, those responsible could be ordered to pay for all firefighting and related costs.

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