PUBLIC NOTICE
Active Burning Restrictions:
Effective at noon on Thursday, May 18, 2023, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, although campfires will still be allowed. This prohibition is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.
Category 2 and Category 3 open fire will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, which includes the Extension and District & Nanaimo River Fire service areas.
This prohibition applies to all public and private land unless specified otherwise (e.g., in a local government bylaw). People are asked to check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.
Specifically, this prohibition applies to:
- Category 2 open fire
- the open burning of any material (piled or unpiled) smaller than two metres high and three metres wide;
- the open burning of material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 m in height and 3 m in width; or
- burning of stubble or grass fires over an area smaller than 0.2 hectares.
- Category 3 open fire
- any fire larger than 2 metres high by 3 metres wide;
- the burning of 3 or more concurrently burning piles no larger than 2 metres high by 3 metres wide
- the burning of 1 or more windrows; and
- burning stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
Also prohibited are the activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):
- Fireworks;
- Sky Lanterns;
- Binary Exploding Targets;
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description; and,
- Air Curtain Burners
The prohibition does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at www.gov.bc.ca/openfireregs
Anyone lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open fire violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures, and air quality advisories go to http://www.bcwildfire.ca
Please watch for future notices, as fire season continues Fire Bans will follow depending on conditions.
Residential Burning
Residential burning permits shall be valid only for the location and the time period indicated and shall be revoked immediately if the holder fails to comply with the provisions listed below, at the discretion of the Fire Chief, or his authorized representative. RDN BYLAW No. 1028 prescribes burning regulations within the Extension Fire Protection District. Highlights of Bylaw 1028 include:
- All material burned should originate from the property
where burned (except campfires). - All fires shall be continuously supervised to prevent damage and injury to people.
- An adequate amount of extinguishing agent must be present at the burn site, (for example water and hose, or sand & shovel for a campfire).
- No burning of prohibited materials is permitted. These materials
include: tires, plastics, drywall, demolition waste, domestic refuse, asphalt, special waste, biomedical waste, treated lumber, railway ties, manure, rubber, paint, tar paper, fuel & lubricant containers. - Check for burning restrictions before lighting any fire, either at www.extensionfire.ca, EXTFD Facebook or by calling 250 754 3235.
Category-2 (Backyard Burning)
Backyard Burning Requirements: all small brush piles must be a minimum of 10 meters from any structure and 5 meters from standing vegetation and fencing. The size of the pile must not exceed 3 meters in diameter and 2 meters in height. The fires should only be burned in open areas. No material is to be added less than two hours before sunset.
Incinerators (Burning Barrels)
Requirements: incinerators must have a screen covering the entire top opening (1 cm or 3/8 inch mesh). The incinerator and screen must be in good condition and must be 5 meters, from any structure and 1.5 meters from standing vegetation or fencing.
Enforcement/Cost Recovery:
The permit holder will be responsible for all the damage caused by lit fires. Permits will be revoked upon violation of its restrictions. If the Fire Department is called to a fire at the burn location, permitted or not, the property owner or occupant may be responsible to pay all costs incurred for the fire call as determined by the Fire Chief or bylaw officer.
Category-3 (Land Clearing/Machine Pile)
Permits shall be valid only for the location and time period indicated, and shall be revoked immediately if the holder fails to comply with the provisions listed below, at the discretion of the Fire Chief, or duly authorized representative. Category-3 burning shall comply with the Environmental Management Act, Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation, Open Burning Smoke Control Code of Practice, the Wildfire Act and the Wildfire Regulations. RDN BYLAW No. 1028 prescribes burning regulations within the Extension Fire Protection District. Highlights of Bylaw 1028 include:
- Vegetative debris is burned on the parcel of land from which it originates;
- Prohibited materials must not be included in the burn pile;
- The burn must be no closer than 100 meters from the nearest residence or business, and 500 meters from schools in session, hospitals or continuing care facilities;
- A machine (of suitable size in relation to the size of the pile) must be on site at all times during the burn, as well 24 hour contact information for the machine operator must be provided.
Duration of Burn: The release of visible smoke must cease after 72 hours. If smoke will continue to be released after this length of time, the fire must be extinguished.
Smoke-Free Periods: Open burns must be separated by a smoke-free period of at least 15 days.
Burn Periods: Open burns may occur on the same parcel of land no more than four times per year.
Venting: Open burning may only take place when the venting index is forecast to be GOOD on the day the burn is initiated and at least a FAIR for the following day. It is available at www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/venting/venting.html or by phoning 1-888-281-2992.
Regardless of the venting index, fires must not be initiated if local airflow would likely cause smoke to negatively impact nearby populated areas.
Enforcement/Cost Recovery:
Violations of the Open Burning Smoke control Regulation may result in fines of up to $200,000. Compliance with the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation is enforced by the BC Conservation Officer Service. The property owner and machine operator are responsible to keep informed of changing regulations & guidelines.
The permit holder will be responsible for all the damage caused by lit fires. Permits will be revoked upon violation of its restrictions. If the Fire Department is called to a fire at the burn location, permitted or not, the property owner or occupant will be responsible to pay all costs incurred for the fire call as determined by the Fire Chief. All liability relating to this burn location is the responsibility of the contractor and property owner.
Prohibited Burning Materials (As per the B.C. Ministry of Environment – Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation)
- Tires
- Plastics
- Drywall
- Demolition waste
- Domestic waste
- Paint & Paint products
- Treated Lumber
- Asphalt & Asphalt Products
- Rubber
- Fuel & Lubricant containers
- Biomedical waste
- Tar Paper
- Railway Ties
- Manure
Campfires
Requirements: campfires are not to exceed 0.5 meters by 0.5 meters in size. Campfires must be a minimum of 5 meters from any structure and 1.5 meters from standing vegetation and fencing.
No person shall start or maintain a cooking fire contained within a fire pit or a fire in a domestic incinerator:
- (a) when the Forest Danger Rating Sign reads “early shift” or “extreme conditions”.
- (b) unless a person of sixteen (16) years of age or older is, at all times, present at the burning site when the fire is burning, for the purpose of supervising and extinguishing the fire.
