The Southeast Fire District will enact a Category 3 open burn ban from next Friday, May 17.
BC Wildfire Service officials said the ban is meant to limit fire risks ahead of wildfire season.
The ban will start at noon (Pacific Time) on Friday, May 17 and last until noon on Oct. 28 or until the order is lifted.
Category 3 burns include the following activities:
- Material concurrently burning in 3 or more piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width.
- Material in one or more piles each exceeding two metres in height or three metres in width.
- One or more windrows, each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width.
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.
Anyone conducting a Category 3 burn must have those fires extinguished by May 17.
“Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail,” said BC Wildfire Service officials.
“If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.”
The ban does not include Category 1 campfires or Category 2 open burns.
“This prohibition applies to all public and private land, unless specified otherwise (e.g., in a local government bylaw),” said BC Wildfire Service officials.
“Check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.”
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