A campfire ban will go into effect for Powell River and most of Vancouver Island on Wednesday, August 17, due to dangerously dry conditions, the Coastal Fire Centre announced Tuesday, August 16.
BC Wildfire Service spokesperson Marg Drysdale said the campfire prohibition applies to all provincial parks, Crown and private lands within the region. A category three prohibition, large industrial fires, is also being instituted.
“It’s hot and dry and we expect that will continue,” said Drysdale. “We haven’t seen any significant sustained rainfall since August 9.”
Burning is already prohibited inside City of Powell River, with the exception of Willingdon Beach campground, but those fires will also be prohibited following the province’s ban.
Fire departments in rural electoral areas of Powell River Regional District will also be updating signage at their fire stations to let the public know campfires are prohibited.
“Conditions are very dry out there,” said Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department chief Dave Keiver. “The rating for the area is at high. People going out into the bush, even in their yards, need to be careful. If there’s a fire, we could be in for a lot of trouble.”
Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department already banned all fires on the island July 28.
Drysdale said the centre expects Thursday, August 18, to be one of the hottest days this summer and centre forecasters are calling for increased wind on Sunday and Monday, two factors that add substantially to wildfire risk.
“With it being this hot, and with the winds, we really need people to follow the prohibition,” she said.
Drysdale added that fines have been tripled this year for anyone caught with a campfire.
“You don’t want to be going home with a $575 to $1,150 fine,” she said. “Fines are not only a deterrent, but also a way of showing people that this is a serious issue.”
There have been 140 fires this year to date in the coastal region; 103 have been caused by people, said Drysdale. The 10-year average is 193.
