BC Wildfire Service says effective noon tomorrow, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, which includes Vancouver Island.

Local fire service areas are implementing their own burn bans as well.

Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, with the exception that only Category 2 and Category 3 fires will be prohibited in the Haida Gwaii Forest District.

This prohibition will be in place until October 31, or until the order is rescinded.

All open burning and the use of items such as fireworks, sky lanterns, burning barrels, and torches (including propane torches for the purpose of burning weeds) are prohibited. The ban does not include the use of outdoor stoves.

The Province says open fire is the largest cause of human-caused fires provincially.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a 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 wildfire, that person may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

For the full information bulletin, list of prohibited activities and detailed map, visit BC Wildfire Service.