The ban on campfires in the Southeast Fire Centre has been lifted.
As of noon on Monday, Aug. 26, category 1 campfires will be allowed again, according to a news release from the BC Wildfire Service.
The Southeast Fire Centre covers the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north, and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west, to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east.
The service is also reminding people to practice safe burning where campfires are allowed, such as maintaining a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area, staying with the fire at all times and keeping a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the campfire.
Before lighting a campfire, the public is urged to check with their local regional district or municipality for local open burning bylaws, the release stated.
Category Two and Three open burning is still prohibited, which is defined as any fire larger than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high. Sky lanterns, fireworks, air curtain burners, burn barrels, burn cages and binary exploding targets are also still banned until further notice.
To report an abandoned campfire, wildfire, or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: bcwildfire.ca, the BC Wildfire Map or download our app.
