Campfires are off the activity list for those enjoying the great outdoors on Vancouver Island, with the Coastal Fire Centre implementing a ban effective noon Thursday. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

flames out

Campfire ban goes into effect for all of Vancouver Island

Jun 8, 2023 | 12:02 PM

NANAIMO — All open fires are now banned throughout a majority of the Coastal Fire Centre, including all of Vancouver Island.

Tinder dry forests, considerable fire activity and little rain in the forecast forced the hand of the BC Wildfire Service to enact one of the earliest campfire bans in its history.

Kimberly Kelly, fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, said the ban went into effect at 12 p.m. on Thursday, June 8 and will remain until conditions improve. All areas of the Fire Centre are affected with the exception of Haida Gwaii.

“It has been the driest May on record and with no significant precipitation in the forecast, our fire weather indices have demonstrated the threshold to enact this prohibition.”

The ban also includes previously prohibited items such as fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels or cages, exploding targets, tiki torches, air curtains or chimineas.

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A fine for lighting a fire against regulations is $1,150 according to the B.C. Wildfire Act. Failing to properly extinguish a fire carries a $575 fire.

Should an illegal fire lead to a larger wildfire, fines go up considerably with possible time in jail.

It comes as the fire danger rating sits at ‘extreme’ for a majority of Vancouver Island, with small pockets of ‘high’.

Those heading out into the backcountry however are still able to cook, provided they use an approved device.

“The prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves,” Kelly added. “An outdoor stove is a CSA-rates or ULC-rated device used for outdoor cooking, heat ambience that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel, gaseous fuel and has a flame height of less than 15 centimetres tall.”

Damage to Hwy. 4 is substantial as a result of rock and other debris sliding onto the road surface during a nearby wildfire. (submitted photo/Dave B.)

Crews continue to fight the Cameron Bluffs wildfire on central Vancouver Island, with the latest update from the BC Wildfire Service listing it as 140 hectares in size and burning out of control.

Debris from the fire fell and damaged a section of Hwy. 4, prompting its closure on Tuesday, June 6.

While a timeline for re-opening has not been made public, several officials are speculating it could be days or close to a week before travel resumes.

A detour was established linking Port Alberni with Lake Cowichan via graded logging roads.

Travellers Thursday morning reported the trip took roughly two and a half hours at speeds of between 40 and 60 kilometres per hour.

Two way traffic is proceeding along a graded logging road and acting as a detour around a closed section of Hwy. 4 near Port Alberni. (submitted photo/Olivia Hynam)

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