Summer hasn’t even officially begun, but this weekend could be the last for Vancouver Island residents to spark a campfire.
The Coastal Fire Centre says it is considering implementing a campfire ban on Monday because of dry forests in B.C.’s backcountry.
Recent rainfall on the island helped lower the wildfire danger rating across most of the region, but more of the wet stuff would be needed to penetrate heavy canopies of dry brush.
Most of the south island is still classified as a "high" wildfire danger rating by B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch.
Those who do light a campfire this weekend are asked to stick to public campground rules and keep the fire smaller than half a metre by half a metre.
Last week, the provincial government expanded open fire restrictions to prohibit the burning of any piles of material larger than a campfire.
Until Thursday’s 3.8 millimetre rainfall, only 0.8 millimetres of the wet stuff had fallen on Victoria in June, according to Environment Canada.
The drought-like conditions have the government urging Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii residents to curb water usage by up to 20 per cent.
