Campfires and Category 3 open burning is prohibited in specific areas of the Coastal Fire Centre.

Areas affected in this restriction are: Vancouver Island south of Highway 24 (Gold River Highway), the Squamish and Chilliwack forest districts; the mid and south Gulf Islands including Hornby and Denman islands. Campfires are permitted within two kilometres of the high water mark on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

This is in addition to the Category 1 and 2 open burning fire restriction in effect throughout the entire Coastal Fire Centre region.

Open fire is defined in three categories. A Category 1 open fire means an open fire that burns piled material no larger than one metre high and one metre wide.

This Category 1 open fire ban now prohibits the use of campfires including open fires in burn barrels, fireworks and other open flame campfire apparatus.

A Category 2 open fire means an open fire that burns piled material no larger than two metres high and three metres wide, or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size.

A Category 3 open fire means an open fire that burns material in piles larger than two metres high

and three metres wide, windrows, or grass over an larger than 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres) in size.

This open fire ban applies within BC Parks and to all public (Crown) and private land outside of

organized areas. This fire ban does not apply within municipalities or regional districts that have their

own burning bylaws.

This open fire ban is in effect to protect public safety and to limit the risk of person-caused wildfires. This ban does not restrict fires in stoves using gas, propane, or briquettes.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain range from the U.S./Canada border at manning Park to Tweedsmuir Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, all Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular

networks. For more information on open fire restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit

www.bcwildfire.ca.

— Coastal Fire Centre