B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) is lifting a campfire ban starting Wednesday, Aug. 28 at noon PST, according to a press release issued from the provincial wildfire service.
Category 1 campfires are smaller than 0.5 meters wide and 0.5 meters high, and tiki torches or chimineas are now permitted, too.
The ban still is enforced for category 2 and category 3 open fires, so too are “fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels, burn cages and air curtain burners.” It’s expected the restrictions will stand until Oct. 31, or earlier if it’s rescinded.
The release notes the change comes thanks to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures.
However, BCWF urges “extreme caution with any campfire” and highlights checking with local authorities who may have their own restrictions in place.
It’s recommended any campfire includes a fireguard around its perimeter, which involves removing any flammable material down to the soil – grass or kindling, for example, or recently fallen leaves.
Don’t leave a fire unattended and ensure it’s completely extinguished and cold to the touch before leaving the site.
In an email from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), the municipality said the fire ban will still stand in Whistler.
"By direction of the Fire Chief, no fires or residential campfires are allowed in Whistler. While campfire prohibition will be lifted in all provincially regulated regions of the Coastal Fire Centre on Wednesday, August 28, we are staying cautious within Whistler, due to the forecasted hot weather ahead," said a communications official.
"The Whistler campfire ban applies to all levels of fire danger rating, including low and moderate. The Whistler campfire ban will remain in effect until further notice.”
Local fires being held
The change comes as a spate of wildfires in the Sea to Sky are officially being held, according to BCWS’s website.
Wet weather has dampened fears about the wildfire near Birkenhead Lake, and in a post on social media, the SLRD announced the evacuation alert was lifted as of 4 p.m. on Aug. 26.
“Based on consultation with the BC Wildfire Service, the SLRD has assessed that potential danger to life and health due to the Birkenhead Lake wildfire has subsided to the degree that the current Evacuation Alert is no longer required. Should conditions change, an Evacuation Alert and/or Evacuation Order will be reinstated as necessary,” the post reads.
Birkenhead Lake fire was discovered Aug. 5 and grew to 755 hectares, and a response update from BCWS Aug. 26 categorizes the fire as being held, which means it is not expected to grow. The service attributes almost 40 millimetres of precipitation which helped suppress the fire.
Strong winds are expected over the week, though, “which may impact response,” the update notes.
Rutherford Creek is 67 hectares and being held, crews are expected to patrol accessible areas of the perimeter.
Ure Creek is also now being held as of Aug. 23.
An information officer for BCWS said in an email the status change in Pemberton’s Fire Zone reflects several factors and pointed to the trends in cooler temperature.
However, terrain makes ground crew’s jobs difficult.
“Many of these wildfires are burning in steep terrain that cannot be safely accessed by ground crews,” their said.
“We will continue working towards full containment on these wildfires with aerial resources where safe to do so. Smoke may still be visible from within the fire’s perimeter as the fire finds unburnt fuels, and as fire suppression activities continue.”
Coray also highlighted the September long-weekend will see warmer and drier conditions which could increase fire activity and smoke.
