The BC Wildfire Service has issued a Category 3 open burning ban that will go into effect at 1pm Mountain Time (Noon Pacific) on June 30th.
Fire activity in the Southeast Fire Centre (which includes the Elk Valley and Fernie) has been quiet in the past week and the fire danger rating for the East Kootenay is very low to low depending on what part of the region you are in.
The category 3 Open Burning Ban will be in effect starting at 1pm Mountain Time (Noon Pacific) on June 30th. This will apply to all public and private land.
Activities that will be prohibited under the ban include:
• any fire larger than two metres high by three metres wide,
• three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide,
• burning of one or more windrows, and
• burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
Anyone conducting a Category 3 fire anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction must extinguish it by noon on the Thursday, June 30, 2022 deadline.
Anyone conducting a Category 3 fire anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction must extinguish it by noon on the Thursday, June 30, 2022 deadline. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.
This prohibition applies to all public and private land, unless specified otherwise (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.
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. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The Southeast Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires. To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: bcwildfire.ca
