The BC Greens are calling for a provincewide fire ban following the early start to this year’s wildfire season.
Leader Sonia Furstenau’s call to ban open burning and campfires comes in the wake of the first evacuation order of the season in the Chetwynd area. That order was downgraded to an alert today, though the fire is still burning out of control.
“The wildfire season is starting earlier each year,” Furstenau said, in a statement, noting Alberta has already implemented fire restrictions. “Following a dry winter with low precipitation and a rapidly disappearing snowpack, we are sitting on a tinderbox.”
“Without significant rainfall, the risk remains high. Given he ongoing drought and dry conditions, implementing a fire ban is a sensible and necessary measure to mitigate the risk of wildfires, especially those caused by human activities.”
A ban on large Category 3 fires is set to take effect across the Kamloops Fire Centre on May 3. It does not apply to Category 2 fires or campfires nor does it apply to gas, propane or briquette cooking stoves.
All fires larger than a campfire are already off limits in some areas of the Northwest Fire Centre across the entire Cariboo and the Prince George Fire Centres.
For the latest on fire bans and restrictions in B.C., go here.