By Times Chronicle Staff
The Oliver Fire Department responded to a brushfire last week off Fairview Rd and Knippleberg with the cause of the fire attributed to fireworks.
The resulting fire which covered 0.4 hectares (1 acre) was actioned on the morning of Sept. 24 after being left overnight, the OFD said on its Facebook page. It noted that no 911 calls were received overnight.
OFD photo
Fireworks fall under Category 2/3 Fire Bans that are currently in effect, the fire department noted.
Category 2 and 3 open burning prohibitions include:
- the burning of any waste, slash or other materials;
- stubble or grass fires of any size over any area;
- the use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description;
- the use of binary exploding targets (e.g. for rifle target practice);
- the use of air curtain burners.
OFD photo
These prohibitions do not ban campfires that are smaller than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide and they do not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
The prohibitions cover all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $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.
OFD photo
