BC Wildfire Service adjusts fire restrictions as conditions improve

The British Columbia Wildfire Service announced two major updates to fire‑use regulations this week. Effective May 21, the Southeast Fire Centre will enforce a Category 3 open‑burn ban that prohibits burn piles larger than two metres high by three metres wide, limits simultaneous piles, restricts windrow dimensions to 200 m × 15 m and caps stubble or grass burns at 0.2 ha. Air‑curtain burners and carbonizers are also banned. Violations may incur fines of up to $1,150, administrative penalties up to $10,000, or up to a year in jail; broader wildfire‑causing offenses can be fined up to $1 million with up to three years' imprisonment. The ban remains in place through spring and summer until either Oct 31 or rescission.

Meanwhile, the Coastal Fire Centre will lift the Category 1 campfire prohibition at noon on May 15, citing cooler temperatures, higher humidity and a reduced fire‑hazard outlook. Category 2 and 3 open‑burn bans—covering fireworks, burn barrels, exploding targets and similar equipment—remain in effect across the coastal region. Residents are urged to follow safety guidelines, avoid windy conditions, maintain fuel breaks, and fully extinguish fires. The province-wide travel bulletin for the Victoria Day long weekend reminds the public that 36 wildfires are active in BC, nine of which are out of control, and advises checking road conditions and local bylaws. Reporting of fire violations can be made via the BC Wildfire mobile app, by calling *5555 or 1‑800‑663‑5555.