A ban on off-road vehicles in the backcountry in the Southeast, Cariboo and Kamloops fire centres will go in place at noon on Friday, says Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok.
The ban will prohibit dirt bikes, ATVs, side-by-sides and other off-road vehicles from travelling on Crown land in the three regions. Other vehicles must stay on designated roads.
The BC Wildfire Service confirmed the ban with a news release Friday morning.
鈥淭his step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety,鈥� says the news release. 鈥淭he operation of any off-road vehicles in these regions during the current wildfire situation creates a potential wildfire risk. While jeeps, trucks and other on-highway vehicles are permitted on designated roads, they are not allowed off-road.鈥�
鈥淐onservation Officer Service and Natural Resource officer service will be stepping up their patrols throughout the weekend to help enforce the prohibition,鈥� Clovechok told the Review. 鈥淚f anyone is found in violation of that prohibition, they may be well issued a ticket of $767. If the contravention of the prohbition causes and contributes to a wildfire, that person may well be ordered to pay for all the firefighting and the associated costs.鈥�
The ban will stay in place until the fire danger lowers, he added.
鈥淯p north its apocalyptic,鈥� Clovechok said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting worse, and we don鈥檛 want it down here. A lot of this stuff can be prevented if people just use their heads.鈥�
Clovechok said people need to be aware of the danger and be fire smart, and locals shouldn鈥檛 be afraid to talk to tourists about it. 鈥淚f you see poeple doing something they shouldn鈥檛 do that contravenes this鈥� just tell them you can鈥檛 do that,鈥� he said.
Clovechok and Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka on Thursday. Other groups .
