People will be sitting around smaller campfires in B.C. parks this summer under new rules taking effect on Canada Day.
Forests Minister Pat Bell says the government is shrinking the size of fires from a metre across to about a half metre to try to reduce the risk of wildfires caused by careless people.
The new rules also require campers to build a fireguard around their fires and have a shovel or at least eight litres of water nearby, and violators could face a fine of $345.
Meanwhile, a relatively calm forest fire situation in B.C. is allowing the province to send help to other provinces facing hotter fire seasons.
The latest deployment saw a 31-member crew head to northern Manitoba on the heels of 40 workers sent earlier to Quebec.
The biggest wildfire in B.C., the Greer Creek blaze near Vanderhoof, east of Prince George, covers about 61 square kilometres and is around 60 per cent contained.
