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Jul 12, 2024

TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – July 12, 2024

TIABC

CEO MESSAGE

In 2018, my wife and I joined another couple for a camping weekend at a beautiful spot on the south coast. Because we wanted to drive our little convertible, we couldn’t pack very much other than clothes, food and a couple of sleeping bags. Thankfully, our friends knew of our first world problem and volunteered to supply all the camping gear.

We arrived at the double campsite only to discover that their accommodation was a brand-new, 5th wheel trailer while ours was a tiny pup tent that barely fit an air mattress let alone the two of us. Because it was cloudy and cold most of the weekend, we spent much of our time warming up by the campfire where we also shared a few laughs, roasted marshmallows, grilled wieners and feasted on s’mores before bedtime.

Upon returning home, our clothes went straight into the wash since they reeked of campfire smoke. The lingering smell of burnt embers and bratwurst brought to mind all the warm memories of a good time had by all.

For most of us that enjoy the great outdoors, sitting around a fire is the quintessential camping experience yet once again thousands of campers won’t be doing that in BC for the foreseeable future because of a province-wide campfire ban issued this week (see below). Officials cite a combination of hot, dry weather, limited resources, and the risk of human-caused fires for the order.

You may recall a previous message I posted on this topic a year ago following the introduction of TIABC’s policy on campfire bans that we updated and re-submitted to the Province a few months ago. While acknowledging the right and need for government to issue bans on all private and public property as weather conditions and other factors evolve, the policy proposed that lodges, resorts and campgrounds with specific areas for campfires, as well as dedicated supervision and water suppression equipment, be exempted from any campfire bans unless operators deemed the conditions to be unsafe for their guests and staff. Officials rejected the idea.

Conversely, the policy recommendations include automatic ‘Category 1’ (i.e. open, wood burning fires) campfire bans in the backcountry only between May 1st and October 31st with exemptions for First Nations, ranchers, and guides. Again, the Province said no preferring to focus on specific periods when the danger rating is high rather than set dates. The latter would make it simpler for all residents and visitors to follow and likely prevent fires but we won’t press the issue.

In his response to TIABC’s policy recommendations, the Executive Director of BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) offered a very detailed explanation of how the province and its regional fire districts determine why, when and where to issue campfire bans. While recognizing the unintended consequences of the prohibition on tourism businesses and the camping sector in particular, he stated that safety of people and property trumps all else.

One can’t argue with the rationale or approach by the Province and BC Wildfire Service, especially after such devastating fires in previous years, 6.5% of which were caused by campfires, and 40% overall by human activity.

In dialogue with the BC Camping Providers Alliance, which informs and advises government on issues that affect the sector, members concurred with BCWS’s science-based approach to issuing bans, as well as pragmatic recommendations such as using propane-fuelled fire pits while camping (notwithstanding the concern over greenhouse gas emissions), as well as educating outdoor enthusiasts on the camper’s code…something that every resident and visitor should be aware of when travelling within British Columbia. TIABC will do its part to spread the word.

Just as sleeping and cooking amenities for camping have evolved from small tents and frying pans over an open fire, to massive homes on wheels with fridges, microwaves, air-conditioning and televisions, so too will the campfire experience now and in the years ahead to help prevent disasters that can wreak havoc on our province and industry. At the very least, I know my clothes won’t smell like burnt wood and fried fish.

Walt Judas

CEO, TIABC

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