Larger burning to be banned Thursday in Kootenay-Boundary

Larger fires will be banned throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes the whole of the Kootenays and the Boundary, as of noon Thursday.

The BC Wildfire Service is implementing this prohibition to help prevent wildfires caused by Category 2 and 3 open burning and to protect public safety.

The ban will remain in place until Oct. 28 or further notice. While campfires are not included, the following will be banned:

Category 2 fires

• Burning material in one pile not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width,
• Burning material in two piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width, or
• Burning stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 of a hectare.

Category 3 fires

• Material in three or more piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width
• Materials in one or more piles each exceeding two meters in height or three meters in width,
• One or more windrows, each not exceeding 200 meters in length or 15 meters in width,
• Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.

Also prohibited are fireworks, fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description; and air curtain burners.

Campfires are excluded from the ban so long as they are half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller. Cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes are also allowed.

More information on the different categories and sizes of open burning is available online.

This prohibition applies to all public and private land, unless otherwise specific in a local government bylaw.

Anyone found to violating the ban faces a ticket of up to $1,150.