Campers Fined Nearly $30K for Ignoring Fire Ban on B.C.’s South Coast Over Long Weekend

Nearly $30,000 in fines were handed out to campers who defied a campfire ban across B.C.’s South Coast during the B.C. Day long weekend, as wildfire risk remains dangerously high.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) reported issuing 26 violation tickets—each worth $1,150—from Friday through Monday in the Coastal Fire Centre. Sixteen of those were handed out in the popular Sea-to-Sky region alone, where multiple people at individual campsites were cited.

“We have beautiful natural resources here in the province, and to keep them that way, we need people to respect the wildfire restrictions and closures,” said Squamish-based conservation officer Calvin Rochon.

Two additional tickets were issued to individuals entering restricted areas near the out-of-control Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island. “Just being in that area is a violation—having a campfire on top of that makes it even more serious,” Rochon added.

The campfire ban, effective since July 17, applies across the South Coast, excluding Haida Gwaii and some parts of the Central Coast like Bella Coola. The ban includes Category 1 fires, defined as fires no larger than half a metre by half a metre, though outdoor stoves are still permitted.

“Open fire is the leading cause of human-caused wildfires in B.C.,” said Christi Howes, fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service. “These fires are entirely preventable and pull resources away from naturally occurring blazes.”

Howes noted that conditions this month have been especially dry and hot, with a higher likelihood of lightning-caused fires compounding the danger. While recent rain has offered brief relief, Cliff Chapman, the wildfire service’s director of provincial operations, warned that the benefits are short-lived.

“It resets conditions on a very micro scale,” he said. “We may get a few good days of direct fire suppression, but the broader hazard across the province remains.”

Violating fire bans can carry steep penalties—ranging from $1,150 tickets to court fines up to $100,000 and even a year in jail. If a person’s fire sparks a wildfire, they may also be liable for the full firefighting costs, which can soar into the millions.

“It’s just not worth it,” Rochon said. “One night of fun around a fire can become a massive public safety threat. Respect the restrictions and wait until it's safe again.”

The current fire ban, including the prohibition of larger Category 2 and 3 burns, is scheduled to remain in place until at least October 31, though it may be lifted earlier if conditions improve significantly.