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B.C. hands out 19 tickets to those who think campfire ban doesn’t apply to them

The B.C. Conservation Office says each one of those tickets carries a $1,150 fine.
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Campfire. FILE PHOTO

After issuing warnings about the threat of wildfires this season, B.C.’s Conservation Service handed out 19 tickets over the long weekend to people who flouted a campfire ban that covers much of the province.

Chris Doyle, the deputy chief with the service, says each of those caught were issued $1,150 tickets.

RELATED: More than 50 illegal fires reported in two days in the Coastal Fire Centre

Doyle says ignorance isn’t an excuse because the campfire ban and fire danger has been very well promoted through the media, on social media and with signage.

He says it would be difficult for anyone heading into the woods to know that there isn’t a campfire ban in place.

There were more than 140 wildfires burning in the province on Wednesday.

The BC Fire Service says on average, 40 per cent of fires are caused by humans.

The Canadian Press