British Columbia is temporarily banning the recreational use of off-road vehicles on Crown land in parts of the province to help prevent new wildfires.
The province said the ban on recreational use of vehicles such as ATVs and motorcycles in the backcountry took effect at noon Monday throughout the Kamloops and Southeast fire centres.
It also applies throughout the 100 Mile House Forest District in the Cariboo and parts of the Coastal Fire Centre, with exceptions for the North Island-Mid Coast, Mid Island and Sunshine Coast areas.
The ban does not apply to private land or national parks.
People who use off-road vehicles for farming, emergency response or business purposes are also exempt.
The province said in a statement Monday that the measure is intended to prevent human-caused wildfire ignitions and reduce the risk of complex support or rescue operations involving people in the backcountry during a wildfire.
The province said people who violate the ban may be fined up to $1,150. Those whose actions cause or contribute to a wildfire may also be ordered to pay firefighting and associated costs.
“I think my message is, don’t be stupid,” said Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.
“If you start a fire, you are reverting resources away from a lightning fire towards a human caused fire, and I can’t think of something more stupid right now given the challenges we’re facing.”
Parmar said the prohibition falls under the Wildfire Act and is not an order under the provincial state of emergency declared Aug. 8 because of the fast-moving Bald Range wildfire.
The B.C. Wildfire Service said about 100 wildfires were burning in the province Monday, including 19 suspected to have been caused by people.
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