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Campfire ban lifted, caution still urged

District of Kent, Wildfire Service lift bans for campfires with permits
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(Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media)

Caution is the name of the game now that campfires can be ignited again.

The District of Kent announced that effective Sept. 3, the campfire ban issued earlier this summer due to extreme fire conditions has been lifted. This is in conjunction with the B.C. Wildfire Service lifting restrictions for the Coastal Fire Centre, in which the Agassiz-Harrison area falls.

According to a recent statement from the Agassiz Fire Department, residents with a valid permit from the District of Kent can burn clean and dry firewood. Though the temperatures have generally been cooler and rain has been heavier, the AFD urges continued caution when lighting and tending campfires.

Campfires may be a maximum size of 0.5 by 0.5 metres.

BCWS urges residents to:Not leave the campfire unattended for any amount of time

Never light a campfire when it’s windy

Clear the fire area of leaves, debris and flammable material

Keep an 8-litre bucket of water close by the fire (a hand tool such as a shovel may also suffice)

Completely extinguish the fire before sleeping or leaving the area for any amount of time

Ensure ashes are cold to the touch and there are no embers when extinguishing the fire

There have been about 20 wildfires in the Agassiz-Harrison area this year, a majority of which were lightning-caused.

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