With the hot, dry weather, the provincial Wildfire Management Branch is reminding the public to be extra careful with campfires this summer.
“Environment Canada is telling us that July is going to be hotter and drier than average,” said fire information officer Marg Drysdale from the Coastal Fire Centre in Parksville.
Drysdale said that the BC Forest Service is monitoring the weather and the conditions in the woods for wildfire safety, but it has not yet imposed a ban on campfires.
The current fire danger rating for the area around Powell River is set to high, upgraded over the weekend when the rain that had been predicted did not materialize.
In the summer of 2009 a complete ban on campfires was imposed, said Drysdale.
“Whether the weather goes to that point this summer we don’t know yet,” she said, “but they continually monitor it.”
Wet, cool, extended springs over the last couple of summers meant the province’s forests did not reach the same level of wildfire danger.
Small campfires are currently permitted throughout BC, so long as campers exercise caution and follow campfire regulations, she said.
Campfire safety tips
• Always check to find out if any open burning prohibitions or campfire bans are in place by checking www.bcwildfire.ca.
• Check with local authorities before lighting any fire, since there could be local prohibitions in place.
• If campfires are allowed, bring a shovel or keep at least eight litres of water near by to properly extinguish the fire.
• Campfires can not be larger than half a metre in height by half a metre in diameter.
• 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 and start new fires.
• Maintain a one-metre fireguard area around the campfire that is fuel-free and all flammable materials like grass or kindling 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. Also ensure that cigarette butts are properly extinguished and are not tossed away carelessly.
To report a wildfire or an unattended campfire call 1.800.663.5555 toll-free or *5555 on cell phones.
