A ban on small-scale open burning will come into effect at noon on Wednesday in the Prince George and Stuart Nechako forest districts.
The ban is being imposed in answer to hot, dry weather in the forecast, the B.C. Wildfire Service said. The daytime high is expected to reach 23 C on Friday, according to Environment Canada.
The ban applies to open burning of any material (piled or unpiled) smaller than two metres high and three metres wide and stubble or grass fires over an area smaller than 2,000 square metres.
However, this prohibition does not apply to Category 3 fires or to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. Anyone lighting a campfire 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.
The prohibition applies to all public and private land.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a 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.
Report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation by calling 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: www.bcwildfire.ca
