Category 2 and 3 fires will be banned throughout the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction starting Friday at noon, but smaller fires, such as campfires, will still be allowed.

The BC Wildfire Service said the ban encompasses the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District.

Category 2 open burns include any of the following:

  • Burning of any waste, slash or other materials.
  • Open fires larger than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high.
  • Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.
  • The use of sky lanterns.
  • The use of fireworks, including firecrackers
  • The use of binary exploding targets.
  • The use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description except when used for a campfire as defined by the wildfire regulation.
  • The use of air curtain burners.

Meanwhile, category 3 fires include:

  • Any fire larger than two metres high by three metres wide.
  • Three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide.
  • Burning of one or more windrows.
  • Burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.

The ban does not include campfires less than half a metre in any direction or cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

However, the ban applies to all public and private land unless specified otherwise, residents are asked to check with local government authorities for any other restrictions that may be in place.

“This prohibition is being implemented due to increased fire danger ratings caused by a warming trend throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. Anyone who has been conducting Category 2 or 3 open fires anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre must extinguish any such fire by the July 24, 2020 deadline. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified,” said the BC Wildfire Service.

The BC Wildfire Service added that violating the ban can result in a ticket of up to $1,500, an administrative penalty of up to $100,000 or fined up to $100,000 with up to a year in jail, if convicted in court, with steeper penalties if it leads to a wildfire.

“If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs, as well as the value of the resources damaged or destroyed by the wildfire,” explained the BC Wildfire Service.