As of noon Wednesday, Aug. 17, no open fires, including campfires, will be allowed in the B.C. coastal area.
According to fire information officer Marg Drysdale from the Coastal Fire Centre, the ban will now include “campfire and category three (large industrial) fires”.
“We’re currently prohibiting them as well as campfires.”
The exceptions to the ban are the “fog zone” on the west side of Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwaii, she said.
“We have now reached the indices where it’s hot and dry and it’s going to continue to be hot and dry,” Drysdale said.
“Fire danger ratings are expanding. And the extreme hazard has been expanding in your [Cowichan Valley] area.
“We haven’t had any significant rainfall since Aug. 9 and our forecasters are telling us that Thursday may be the hottest day of the year,” she said.
Portable campfires are still allowed.
Briquettes can be used if they are in a CSA/UL approved device, Drysdale said.
The ban also includes tiki torches, she said, adding, “They are fire on a stick.”