Bonfire on forest service road in North Okanagan leads to $1,150 fine – Okanagan | 24CA News

An Okanagan man obtained a hefty superb this previous weekend for failing to adjust to the area’s fireplace bans.

Vernon RCMP say they obtained a name for help from the Coldstream Fire Department after a big fireplace was reported early Sunday on King Edward Forest Service Road.

After arriving on the scene, roughly 5 kilometres up the highway at 3 a.m., police found a bunch of individuals round a big bonfire.

3:12B.C. wildfires: Evacuation orders and alerts in Columbia Valley

Fire crews extinguished the bonfire, with police fining a person $1,150 for failing to adjust to a hearth restriction underneath the Wildfire Act.

The Kamloops Fire Centre is underneath a campfire ban, issued on July 7.

“Restrictions on open fires are in place for a reason and need to be taken seriously. With wildfires burning across the province, it’s disappointing and frustrating to have to deal with careless behaviour like this,” stated Const. Chris Terleski.

“Not solely does it put lives and property in peril, however It’s disrespectful to our firefighters who’re proper now, placing themselves in danger day-after-day, battling these fires and doing their finest to maintain our communities protected.

2:28Evacuations ordered as wildfire burns close to Radium Hot Springs, B.C.

“The last thing they need is to have to divert essential resources to fight another fire because someone wanted to have a bonfire. There’s absolutely no excuse for it.”

RCMP say penalties for contravening the Wildfire Act can embrace:

• dropping, releasing or mishandling a burning substance: $575
• failing to extinguish a burning substance: $575
• lighting, fueling or utilizing a hearth towards laws: $1,150
• failing to extinguish a hearth: $575
• lighting, fueling or utilizing a hearth towards restriction: $1,150
• failing to adjust to fireplace restriction: $1,150

1:39Italy wildfires: More than 1,500 evacuated, airport shut down as flames burn Palermo

The B.C. Wildfire Act is out there on-line.

Further, with the area’s fireplace hazard score at reasonable to excessive, police are urging residents to be fireplace sensible.

“It can happen in a blink of an eye and only takes one spark to ignite a wildfire,” stated Terleski.

“Be conscious of your activities and do everything you can to prevent starting a fire. Adhere to the burning restrictions, dispose of cigarettes properly, and never leave any type of flame or fire unattended.”

3:14B.C. wildfires: Situation stays unstable in province regardless of rain

&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.