Fire ban extended

Photo: Contributed - Government of B.C.

Due to unusually warm spring conditions and a dry long-range forecast, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has announced a ban on large fires in southeast British Columbia.

The ban takes effect on Friday at noon, and covers Category 2 and 3 fires. These include the burning of any waste materials, grass fires and the use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels.

The affected area is bordered to the south by the U.S. border, and the north by Mica Dam. The western limit of the ban is the Monashee Mountains and the eastern limit is the Alberta-B.C. border

This ban does not cover campfires under a half-metre high and a half-metre wide, or cooking stoves.

Ignoring the ban could result in a $345 ticket for the offending individual. If a person's illegal fire is found to be the cause of a wildfire, the penalty could be $10,000 in addition to the costs associated with fighting the fire.