Explosive long weekend ban

Photo: Getty Images

By John Boivin

Don’t plan to shoot off any fireworks in the province’s southeast this B.C. Day long weekend.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding people the Southeast Fire Centre is still under Category 2 and 3 prohibitions for open burning, which includes private fireworks displays.

“Setting off fireworks is considered to be a high-risk activity, since they can easily ignite forest fuels and start a wildfire that could threaten public safety,” the service warns in a news release.

The prohibitions also include other activities like waste and slash burning, and grass fires. Small open campfires are still permitted, as well as enclosed gas, charcoal, or other cook stoves and barbecues.

The penalties for violating the ban are stiff: fines range from $1,150 to $100,000 and/or jail time.  

Wet, cooler weather has made it a relatively quiet season for the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes an area from the U.S. border to the Mica Dam north of Revelstoke, and from the Okanagan highlands to the Alberta border. Sixty-six fires have burned 321 hectares, about half the average for this time of year. 

A recent warm spell, combined with thunderstorms and lightning, has firefighters watchful. Currently, five small fires are burning in the southeast district, though none are threatening communities.