The BC government is urging people to exercise caution as wildfire risks persist into autumn months.
Specifically, those heading into the outdoors are asked to stay up-to-date on current conditions and following fire prohibitions.
This caution is being urged as BC Wildfire Service’s (BCWS) fall forecasts continued wildfire risk for much of the province, especially in the Cariboo and southwestern Interior.
In these regions, thunderstorms that ignite wildfires typically decrease as fall approaches, but human-caused wildfires remain a risk.
Until substantial rainfall comes to these regions, the risk will remain high.
Conditions are currently ideal for wildfire activity because of the late summer’s record-breaking heat wave as well as the ongoing drought.
Despite some regions having severe wildfire conditions, BCWS’s Coastal Fire Centre has announced they have eased some restrictions on parts of Vancouver Island as cooler weather and recent rainfall have reduced the risk of fire.
The campfire ban, introduced on July 17th, has been lifted in the Campbell River Forest District, the North Island Central Coast Forest District and the Sunshine Coast Forest District as of this week.
In these areas, residents and visitors can once again use campfires, sky lanterns, wood-fired hot tubs, wood-fired pizza ovens and other wood-fuelled devices, as long as they are not enclosed in buildings. All of these fire-types fall under Category 1 fires.
Despite the Coastal Fire Centre lifting Category 1 restrictions in some regions, the ban on Category 2 and 3 fires remains in place for the whole of their jurisdiction.
Category 1 fires remain banned for the entirety for the South Island Forest District, the Sea to Sky Forest District and the Chilliwack Forest District.
In addition to the Coastal Fire Centre’s fire bans, many regional districts, First Nations communities and municipalities have their own bans in place.
The Province asks that residents check in with their local authorities, governments and leadership to see current restrictions before starting a fire.
Currently, there are seven active wildfires on Vancouver Island and 125 throughout BC.
