campfire22More fallout from the increasing temperatures.

Dry conditions are escalating the risk of fires, so the Coastal Fire Centre is putting in a campfire ban at noon on Saturday for a good chunk of the region, including the lower mainland.

The only exceptions are the central part of the coast, northern Vancouver Island, and Haida Gwai.

Cooking stoves that use briquettes or propane are still allowed as long as the height of the flame is 15 centimeters or less.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail