Across the Prince George Fire Centre open burning in categories 2 and 3 will be prohibited effective Thursday, March 28 at noon.
This prohibition will remain in force until Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 or until the order is rescinded.
All persons lighting, fueling or using any of the open fires listed in categories 2 and 3 within the restricted area are to cease doing so and to extinguish all such fires. Members of the public and industry are urged to be extra vigilant when monitoring and in ensuring extinguishment of open burns.
Category 2 refers to fires, other than a campfire, that burn:
- Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares
Category 3 refers to an open fire that burns:
- Material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width
- One or more windrows, none of which exceed 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares
The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances will also be prohibited:
Fireworks
Sky lanterns
Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
Binary exploding targets
This prohibition does not ban Category 1 that includes campfires that are a half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller, or the use of cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
This order applies to the following geographic boundaries and is specific to all public and private land unless otherwise specified in an enactment.
The Prince George Forest District
The Stuart Nechako Forest District
The Mackenzie Forest District
The Peace Forest District
The Fort Nelson Forest District
Multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement Open Fire Prohibitions, including drought conditions, current and forecasted weather, the availability of fire fighting resources and the Buildup Index.
This prohibition is being implemented to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety due to the high grass fire hazard, persistent drought conditions and increased incidence of human-caused wildfires associated with Category 2 and Category 3 open burning.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.
If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs. Violators could also be held responsible for damages to Crown resources, which could be significant.
More information about the Wildfire Act and Regulation.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone or through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
For more information visit BC Wildfire Service.
