Campfire ban lifted for parts of Coastal Fire Centre, except southern Vancouver Island

Campfire ban lifted for parts of Coastal Fire Centre, except southern Vancouver Island
CHEK

A summer-long campfire ban will be lifted in the Coastal Fire Centre except for the lower third of Vancouver Island, including Victoria and Nanaimo.

The Ministry of Forests said in a news release the restrictions for all areas except the Southern Island Forest District will be lifted as of noon Friday.

The area encompasses Victoria to Union Bay on the east coast, including Gulf Islands like Salt Spring, Pender, Hornby, Lasqueti and Gabriola, and Victoria to Nootka Sound on the west coast.

Source: Coastal Fire Centre

It includes communities like Victoria, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Parksville, Tofino and Port Alberni.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, which include the use of fireworks, will remain banned in all of the Coastal Fire Centre until Oct. 15 or until the order is rescinded.

READ MORE: B.C. wildfires, evacuation orders continue to drop as government urges caution

Fire danger has fallen in most of the Coastal Fire Centre except for southern Vancouver Island, the majority of which remains at an “extreme” danger rating.

The number of wildfires in B.C. dropped to 216 on Thursday, but the provincial government urged people to remain vigilant this Labour Day long weekend to avoid sparking any new blazes.

A campfire is any fire smaller than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide.

Anyone who does light a campfire should not do it in windy conditions because embers might spread to other flammable areas. Never leave a fire unattended and make sure any flames are completely extinguished, with ashes cold to the touch.

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