Don’t even think of lighting a campfire anywhere in the tinder-dry Fraser Valley.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is warning the public that it is ramping up patrols for illegal campfires over the Labour Day long weekend.
Conservation officers have so far issued 23 violation tickets in the Fraser Valley this fire season, for a total of $26,450 in fines for campfires.
“The public can expect to see conservation officers out patrolling the backcountry,” said Conservation Officer Cody Ambrose.
They’ll be doing enforcement checks in areas from Chilliwack to Hope, including central Fraser Valley, like Abbotsford, Mission and Maple Ridge.
Being found at a campfire burning during a total fire ban could mean a $1,150 fine, for each person present.
This has already been a very busy fire season for conservation officers in the Fraser Valley with extremely dry fire conditions, said Ambrose.
READ: Harrison fire only 60 per cent contained
Aside from enforcing the fire ban, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service has also been assisting the BC Wildfire Service with the initial response to the Slollicum Creek wildfire near Harrison.
To report a campfire, call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277 or the BC Wildfire Service at 1-800-663-5555.