The Beaufort Picnic Site was the site of enforcement action by a conservation officer on the evening of Monday, Aug. 4. (Google)

By Ian Holmes

tickets issued

Tourists ticketed for ignoring BC Parks closure during Wesley Ridge wildfire

Aug 7, 2025 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Ontario tourists made an ill-advised stop at a beach to get up-close views of a helicopter scooping water from Cameron Lake to combat an out of control fire.

It happened on Monday, Aug 4, around 6:40 p.m. when Chris Miller of the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) was travelling west on Highway 4 when he spotted a recreational vehicle at the closed Beaufort Picnic Site, a popular BC Parks rest stop.

“There was a motorhome parked with its hazards on right at that picnic site. It was actually partially in the lane impeding traffic on the corner of the highway. It was a definite safety risk,” Miller told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Miller brought the vacationers up from the beach and wrote the pair tickets of $115 each before sending them on their way.

At the time, a helicopter was near the park’s shoreline reloading water to suppress the Wesley Ridge fire, which has displaced hundreds of people living in rural areas north of Qualicum Beach.

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Miller issued tickets under the Park Act for failing to obey the park’s well-marked closed signage.

“It’s signed, barricaded and taped all along there. They ignored those signs and walked right past them. Their RV was actually parked in front of the signs, so not a whole lot of excuses there.”

Miller said the Beaufort Picnic Site, as well as other surrounding park closures, are designed to maintain the safety of civilians and firefighters.

“This helicopter the other night was actually tucked into the bay that was being protected by the little point at the Beaufort picnic site. It had to pick it (water) up there because it was too windy in the other part of the lake.”

Miller stated breaching a restricted area under the BC Wildfire Act can result in fines of over $1,000, which wasn’t the case during his enforcement action.

Despite the actions of the motorhome’s occupants, Miller said the helicopter pilot appeared to still be able to safely scoop water from Cameron Lake.

“It just provides a huge safety risk, not only for the traffic travelling along the highway there, but also for the firefighters and the pilot of the helicopters,” Miller said.

He noted public access closures in areas surrounding the Wesley Ridge fire are clearly marked with cones and signage.

During a Wednesday, Aug. 6 news conference, B.C. forests minister Ravi Parmar relayed that the BCCOS issued 26 violation tickets this past weekend for illegal campfires throughout the Coastal Fire Centre.

Parmar called the non-compliance unacceptable.

“This kind of activity puts people and livelihoods at risk. We have to do better. Please stay vigilant and follow the fire prohibitions in your area,” Parmar said.

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