$2,300 worth of fines handed out for illegal campfires in North Okanagan

People unable to heed the campfire ban put in place last week got an expensive lesson in the North Okanagan.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service doled out two tickets Friday night, July 2, to individuals in Vernon and Enderby who lit campfires during the ban.

The tickets, issued under the Wildfire Act, are for $1,150 a piece, totalling $2,300.

North Okanagan BCCOS issued two tickets Friday night to individuals who lit campfires during the fire ban #Vernonbc #Salmonarm fines totalled $2300 pic.twitter.com/QUCHflhU8J

— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) July 5, 2021

Anyone found breaking a fire ban may face a range of fines, including a $1,150 ticket, an administrative penalty up to $10,000, or a fine up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison if convicted in court. If a prohibited fire contributes to the start of a wildfire firefighting costs could also be on the table.

The campfire ban went into effect June 30, one week after a ban on larger open fires was implemented.

A campfire is an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 metres in height and 0.5 m in width and is used by any person for recreational purposes, or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.

"Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province. The B.C. government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously," the province said when it announced the ban.

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