Effective at noon July 8, and until further notice, campfires are again permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre.

The lifting of this campfire ban applies within BC Parks and to all public (Crown) and private land outside of organized areas. It does not apply within municipalities or regional districts that have their own burning bylaws or bans. Please check with your local authorities

before lighting a fire.

This campfire ban has been rescinded because the fire danger throughout the Coastal Fire Centre has been lowered by recent rainfall and cooler temperatures. Should drier weather return and the fire danger increase, a campfire restriction could once again be required to reduce person-caused fires.

Category 1 and 2 restrictions remain in place throughout the Coastal Fire Centre. Category 3 restrictions remain in place in the following specified areas:

Areas affected in the Category 3 restriction are: Vancouver Island south of Highway 28 (Gold River Highway), the Squamish and Chilliwack forest districts; the mid and south Gulf Islands including Texada, Quadra, Cortes, Read and Hernando Islands and gulf islands south of these islands.

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 permits 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 (2,000 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.

Those wishing to light a campfire are responsible for:

- Ensuring that conditions are appropriate to start a campfire.

- Ensuring that your campfire does not escape.

- Ensuring that your fire is completely extinguished before leaving the area.

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.