Global News has reported that Campfire ban for the southeast and coast of British Colombia is expected to be lifted as a result of long rainy and cooler weather in the area.
Once lifted, people in these areas can have Category 1 fires. These are defined as half meter wide or high fires; anything larger than this range is classified as either Category 2 or Category 3 fire which will remain prohibited.
Similarly, there would still be prohibition on objects like fireworks and sky lanterns.
The Coastal Fire Centre’s ban will be over by Wednesday at noon while it was already removed from the Southeast Fire Centre on Monday at the same time.
This action comes after officials lifted a camping prohibition in Cariboo region last Friday and campfires are also allowed in Prince George Fire Centre now.
However, campfires are still not allowed within Kamloops Fire Centre and most parts of Northwest Fire Centre.
What are the reasons for the fires being banned?
In line with government directives, fire bans are authorized by regional fire centres who take into consideration local fire hazards, anticipated weather conditions and levels of fire activity in their jurisdictions.
Furthermore, there may be anticipating a surge in lightning-caused fires or cases of critical fire where the British Colombia Wildfire Service cannot afford to use resources on human-caused fires at the expense of naturally caused ones.
In these situations, flames pose an unacceptable risk and ultimately increasе fаlsе аlаrm smоkе cоuntеrs, wildfires phone-ins as well as junk fires detract from thе ability оf thе sуstem tо detect аnd respоnd tо fіrеs
What would happen if one lit a fire in a prohibited area
The penalty for breaking a ban on burning is up to $1,150. Further more if such a person loses control of such a blaze and causes a wild-fire he could pay fine ranging from $100000 to $1000000 or spend 1 year in prison.