The B.C. Wildfire Service is preparing for increased wildfire activity this weekend and is urging the public to be cautious with any activities in the backcountry.
Hot and dry weather is in the forecast throughout B.C. along with strong, gusty winds. And the fire danger rating ranges from moderate to high with pockets of extreme for nearly the entire province.
"Given the weather forecast this weekend, the wildfire threat in B.C. will almost certainly increase," said Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson in a statement. "I'd like to remind all British Columbians to be extra vigilant and follow the rules while enjoying the outdoors this weekend."
So-called category 2 opening burning is prohibited in the Prince George and Cariboo fire centres. Category 2 fires are defined as one to two concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide and stubble or grass burning over an area less than 0.2 hectares.
The prohibition also applies to burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description, sky lanterns, tiki torches or fireworks and stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA/ULC approved.
Category 3 open fires are permitted but must comply with open burning regulations and you must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1-888-797-1717.
There are no bans on campfires and no forest use restrictions in those two centres.
In the Northwest fire centre, all forms of open burning are prohibited in the Skeena, Nadina and Bulkley fire zones and campfires are prohibited in the Nadina and Bulkley fire zones.
Campers are urged to take the following precautions regarding campfires:
- Have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
- Campfires can not be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
- Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material.
- Maintain a one-metre fireguard around the campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, kindling, etc.) have been removed.
- Never leave a campfire unattended.
- Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.
Also, anyone operating motorized vehicles in the backcountry must exercise caution, since the heat from an exhaust pipe - particularly in tall, dry grass - could easily ignite a wildfire.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and 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.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or call *5555 on a cellphone.
