Bonfire at Coldstream bush party sparks $1,150 fine

Police were called to a bush party at 3 a.m. on Sunday about 5 km up the King Edward Forest Service Road in Coldstream where they discovered a group of people around a large bonfire.

After putting the fire out, one person was handed a ticket carrying a $1,150 fine for failing to comply with a fire restriction.

Campfires are banned in most of BC as the province goes through its worst wildfire season on record.

READ MORE: British Columbia's record-breaking wildfire season, by the numbers

“Restrictions on open fires are in place for a reason and need to be taken seriously,” Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer for the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, said in a news release. “With wildfires burning across the province, it’s disappointing and frustrating to have to deal with careless behaviour like this.

“Not only does it put lives and property in danger, but it’s disrespectful to our firefighters who are right now, putting themselves at risk every day, battling these fires and doing their best to keep our communities safe. 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.”

Fines under the Wildfire Act start at $575 for releasing or mishandling burning substances or failure to extinguish a burning substance or fire.

Penalties double to $1,150 for lighting a fire when there are fire restrictions or failing to comply with those restrictions.

If a person causes a wildfire they can, ultimately, be charged with the full cost of that fire.

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

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