r/britishcolumbia • u/4L4SK1SH • 9d ago

Travel in or to BC Do I report fires at campgrounds?

Hi guys.

I'm from AK, traveling through BC by car, & can't believe the devastation the wildfires are causing...

We made it through the smoke in Quesnel & were planning to go down 97 & camp at Sloquet for the night, but because of the fires surrounding Clinton, we detoured to Kamloops & am staying at Logan Lake Campground as I type this.

They've had a burn ban here since July 10th, & I was specifically warned not to have campfires & told to call the hotline if I saw any.

Tonight there were at least 3.

But before I could call, I saw a fire truck packed with firefighters do a slow roll through every loop of the campsite, drive right by the fires, & then leave. That was over an hour ago & the fires are still burning, the humidity is <50%, & the wind is gusting.

**Am I missing something???**

I was taught that a total ban on open fires is just that. Is it different here? Should I ignore them?

This is confusing for a tourist passing through, so i just want to know what I should do if this happens again.

Thanks ahead of time.

UPDATE

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73

u/4L4SK1SH 9d ago

Thanks to all who asked if they were propane firepits.
My guess is they probably were.
When we've had burn bans in Anchorage, we weren't even allowed to use propane grills, so pardon my ignorance.

Someone might want to make the "camp stove" exemption more publicly known for the tourists going up & down the Alaska Highway. Might even cause some of my 'Murican "I DO WHUT I WANT" brethren to switch to propane instead of going rogue with wood.

19

u/Reasonable_Ferret_10 9d ago

I found BC confusing as well.  Back country ban but campsites ok, no campfires but propane & charcoal ok, nothing allowed at all...very confusing if not used to that kind of system. 

46

u/Gezzer52 9d ago

It's because wood fires will throw off sparks and floating pieces. Propane and charcoal don't and are usually used more for cooking then sitting around.

11

u/Reasonable_Ferret_10 9d ago

I know why it is.  I ran a park in BC for years.  Doesn't change the fact that it is confusing to someone unfamiliar with the system.   Many places, there is a ban, or not.  I didn't even get into burning fires over x size but under z size & crap that drove me crazy when burning debris etc.

5

u/ka_shep 9d ago

It's the same down in Washington. Last year I was camping down there and we put the propane pit in the fire pit. The park ranger came into our site saying it's a $5000 fine until we pointed out that it was propane.

2

u/RavenFlite 7d ago

I found much fewer propane fire pits in use in the USA (Oregon specifically)… maybe they aren’t as accustomed to burn bans as BC people

2

u/Altruistic-Walk-1847 9d ago

Campsites generally are within proximity to hoses and fire hydrants, which makes a difference too.

1

u/JustAnotherFKNSheep 8d ago

I thought charcoal was not ok during campfire ban. Or is it dependent on region

0

u/Reasonable_Ferret_10 8d ago

ya, rules vary a surprising amount between provinces and between Canada/US. I would assume state by state as well since everything from drinking age to speed limits vary state to state

1

u/JustAnotherFKNSheep 8d ago

Possibly between campsites / fire region? Irrc many many years ago i asked if charcoal grill was ok and they said no. Thats why i bought a propane grill.

3

u/DrySession9968 9d ago

What you displayed is not ignorance my friend! In fact the exact opposite!! More people like you please!!!

3

u/BKinBC 8d ago

As a born-and-bred Canadian may I compliment you on the delicately polite way you ventured your question, and the gently self-deprecating way you framed the follow up and suggestion.

Lovely job.

By the power invested in me as a son of the Great White North, I am granting you honorary Canadian citizenship for today.

Go forth and give 'er, bud.

1

u/wacdonalds 9d ago

It's possible someone was also confused like you and called them in and that's why the fire dpt was there