233159
231507

BC  

Wildfire risk increases

As campers and outdoor enthusiasts gear up for the long weekend, the province is warning higher temperatures and drier conditions in many parts of B.C. are causing wildfire danger rates to rise.

Caution is urged over the B.C. Day long weekend, in order to prevent human-caused blazes.

While campfires are permitted in all of the province’s six fire centres, Category 2 and 3 open fires are not — in order to reduce wildfire risk and protect the public.

The use of fireworks is also prohibited in many areas of B.C.

Since April of this year, the BC Wildfire Service responded to 603 wildfires, 201 of which were caused by people.
Here are some campfire safety tips:

  • Have a shovel or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
  • Campfires can not be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
  •  Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material.
  • Maintain a one-metre fireguard around the campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, kindling, etc.) have been removed.
  •  Never leave a campfire unattended.
  • Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Anyone operating motorized vehicles in the backcountry must also exercise caution, since the heat from an exhaust pipe — particularly in tall, dry grass — could ignite a wildfire.

Natural Resource Officers and Conservation Officers will be conduct regular patrols throughout British Columbia, over the weekend.



More BC News