B.C. forests minister Steve Thomson continued to urge caution Wednesday in the face of a spurt of late-season forest fires.
Although the season has been relatively quiet up until now, a major human-caused blaze has broken out near Kelowna and hot, dry weather is forecast for other parts of the province, notably Northeast B.C., including the Prince George area.
"There's still a significant threat of wildfire in many parts of our province so one of the key messages that we want to communicate again today is for people to be vigilant, not to let down our guard, to obey the campfire bans and the regulations that are in place," Thomson said during a teleconference with media.
"It just goes to show you how quickly things can develop if we're not careful."
No campfire bans have been declared in this region but officials advising campers and others to never leave a fire unattended and always ensure adequate water and hand tools are nearby to prevent escapes.
The fire danger rating is currently moderate to high in the Prince George, Fort St. John, and Dawson Creek fire zones and low to moderate across the Fort Nelson, Mackenzie, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Robson Valley zones.
Leaving a campfire unattended can result in a $345 fine. If your campfire causes a wildfire, you may also be held liable for suppression costs and damages.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cellphone or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555.
Thomson said the season has been so quiet that 2,000 fire fighters have been sent out of province this summer to battle blazes elsewhere. $52 million has been spent fighting fires in B.C. but Thomson indicated that should be more than offset by payments for service from other provinces.
