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Open fire ban remains in place

Despite cooler temperatures and scattered showers in some areas, the fire danger rating still ranges from high to extreme in northern B.C., the province's wildfire management branch said Thursday.

Despite cooler temperatures and scattered showers in some areas, the fire danger rating still ranges from high to extreme in northern B.C., the province's wildfire management branch said Thursday.

Consequently, all open fires, including campfires, remain prohibited throughout the Northwest Fire Centre with the exception of the North Coast Forest District while anything larger than a campfire remains prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre, with the exception of the Fort Nelson zone.

A campfire cannot be any more than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide.

Moreover, a fireguard must be maintained by removing flammable debris from the campfire area, it must never be left unattended, and there must be hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire before leaving the area for any length of time.

The prohibition covers all provincial parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be fined $345 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.