Reminder: Friday marks the start of the first weekend for which a campfire ban is in effect in almost all areas of coastal British Columbia.
Starting Thursday, the BC Wildfire Service issued a Category 1 open fire prohibition that is expected to last until Oct. 31.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Fire Information Officer Julia Caranci says the only exempt areas on the coast are Haida Gwaii and Bella Coola.
She says the fire danger in the area has jumped up to the moderate to high range and parts of Vancouver Island are rated ‘extreme.’
Caranci says the majority of wildfires in B.C. are human caused, especially in the earlier weeks of summer.
“For the entirety of 2024 in the Coastal Fire Center, we had 158 fires, and 103 of those were human caused,” she explained.
“As we move into July and August, that’s when we start to see more lightning-caused fires, which we can’t really do anything to prevent. So we want to save our resources to have them to be available to react and respond to those naturally caused wildfires,” said Caranci.
She’s urging British Columbians to abide by all fire restrictions.
And if you spot a fire, you’re asked to report it right away — and you can do that via the BC Wildfire Service app.