B.C. Wildfire Service announces ban on most open fires in coastal areas

The Canadian Press

· Posted: May 28, 2025 4:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: May 28

The B.C. Wildfire Service has announced unfastened occurrence bans that volition prohibit astir burning activities successful astir coastal areas of the province, with exceptions for Haida Gwaii.

The prohibition connected Category 2 and Category 3 unfastened fires successful the Coastal Fire Centre comes into effect astatine noon Friday, and the work says it's being imposed to trim the hazard of wildfires.

The work says the prohibition volition stay successful spot until Oct. 31 oregon until it is rescinded.

Category 1 campfires that are nary much than fractional a metre precocious by fractional a metre wide volition inactive beryllium allowed, arsenic good arsenic cooking stoves.

The bans screen westbound of the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S. borderline to Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park successful the north, including the Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Gulf Islands.

Anyone breaching the prohibition could beryllium deed with a $1,150 usurpation ticket, an administrative punishment of up to $10,000, oregon fines of up to $100,000 and 1 twelvemonth successful jailhouse if convicted successful court.

The work says that if a wildfire is triggered, the idiosyncratic liable could person to wage each firefighting costs.

On Wednesday, the wildfire service's online dashboard  showed 45 progressive wildfires burning successful the province, including 11 sparked successful the erstwhile 24 hours, with astir enactment concentrated successful the northeast country of B.C.