As the weather warms up, so does the risk of forest fires – and the B.C. government is beefing up punishments for those who spark them.
Fines more than tripled on Friday for a variety of wildfire-related violations, giving the province some of the highest penalties in Canada.
The fine for ignoring a fire restriction like a campfire ban has jumped from $345 to more than $1,100.
Failing to properly extinguish a burning substance like a cigarette will now net you a $575 ticket, as will dropping or mishandling a lit smoke.
The upcoming wildfire season is expected to be another busy one following the 2015 season, which was one of the busiest and costliest in recent years, according to the province.
More than 283,400 hectares were destroyed by wildfire and move than $278-million was spent on managing the fires.
If you see a wildfire or an unattended campfire you’re asked to report it to the BC Wildfire Service by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your cell phone.
