Category 2 and Category 3 open burning is now prohibited across the Prince George Fire Centre. This prohibition will remain in place until 12:00 noon PDT on October 15, 2024 or until the Order is rescinded.
Anyone conducting a Category 2 or 3 open burn anywhere in the Prince George Fire Centre jurisdiction were given a deadline to extinguish their fires by noon on March 28.
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 (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 as illustrated 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 (BUI)," notes a press release by the BC Wildfire Service.
The 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 is available online.
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.
