Campfire bans will soon be lifted in most areas of the province, according to the B.C Wildfire Service (BCWS).
The service says the change will take effect Wednesday at noon PT. The update comes as a cold front brought rain and fall-like temperatures to many parts of the province Tuesday.
Emelie Peacock, a fire information officer with the BCWS, told CBC News that Category 1 campfires – all fires smaller than 0.25 square metres — will be permitted across the province, except for one area within the Cariboo Fire Centre.
“Campfires are a very specifically defined type of fire, so It’s a very small fire,” she said in an interview with CBC’s The Early Edition, adding that campers should also have eight litres of water and a shovel on hand.
“But we’re glad that we’re able to lift those campfire prohibitions, and folks can really enjoy that last gasp of summer.”
Peacock added that the BCWS is grateful that human-caused wildfires have been trending downward and that the public has been reporting dangerous activities, including abandoned campfires.
Five per cent of all fires currently burning in B.C. are caused by people, according to the service.
The BCWS reported Tuesday afternoon that there are 280 active wildfires, with the majority considered as “being held” or “under control.” None of them are wildfires of note, fires that are highly visible or posing a threat to people or public safety
On the other hand, Peacock said category 2 and 3 open fires remain prohibited, except in the Northwest Fire Centre. In this area, Category 3 fires are still banned in the Nadina Forest District, the Skeena portion of the Skeena Stikine Forest District and the Old Kalum portion of the Coast Mountains Forest District.
The BCWS says the far northwest will continue to see showers and unsettled conditions.
But the service says other parts of the province will see warming and drying conditions over the coming days.
“We are looking at a stretch of warm weather towards the end of this week and stretching into Labour Day,” Peacock said. “And so again, just urging folks to be really careful when they’re out recreating … and report any smoke columns or dangerous activity that they see.”
