A ban on open fires has come into effect for the provincial parks, Crown lands and private land outside municipalities in the Prince George Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires.
The Fort Nelson fire zone is exempted from the prohibition, which also does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and it does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
However the ban does apply to the burning of any waste, slash or other materials, stubble or grass fires of any size over any area and the use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.
Those lighting campfires must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from
around the campfire area and must have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the fire.
Do not light campfires or keep them burning during windy conditions. Make sure the fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.
The prohibition will remain in effect until Sept. 30, or until the public is otherwise notified.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $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 responsible may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.
