Maple Ridge Fire Rescue (MRFR) has issued a reminder to residents that a city-wide ban on certain types of fires begins Friday.
In line with BC Wildfire Service, the ban will be effective May 17 at 12 p.m. noon in Maple Ridge and across coastal B.C.
Most open burning activities will be prohibited everywhere from the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwaii until the end of October.
In a notice Wednesday, MRFR reminded citizens that the ban applies to Category 2 and Category 3 open fires. That means no large fires, fireworks, or things like sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, or air curtain burners will be allowed.
The department said the ban does not apply to using CSA-rated or ULC-rated barbeques, camping-type stoves, portable campfires, natural gas/propane, or briquette barbeques, on private property.
Small campfires that are a half metre high by a half metre wide or smaller are still allowed.
MFRF says anyone lighting a campfire must remove flammable debris from around the campfire area and have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water nearby to extinguish the fire if needed.
Anyone in coastal B.C. found violating the ban may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and possibly sentenced to one year in jail.