The Northwest Fire Centre has issued a ban on campfires and open burning in portions of the Northwest to help prevent human caused wildfires and to protect public safety.
The ban is effective as of July 17.
The fire prohibitions cover the Nadina Forest District, the Skeena Stikine Forest District, excluding the Old Cassiar Forest District and the Coast Mountain Forest District, excluding the former North Coast Forest District.
The fire ban will remain in place until Sept. 15 or until the public is notified otherwise.
The following activities that have been prohibited: category two open fires, which is an open fire that burns piled material no larger than two metres high and three metres wide or grass over an area less than 2000 square metres.
Category three open fires, which are open fires that burn material in piles larger than two metres high and three metres wide, windrows or grass over an area larger than 2000 square metres.
Campfires, which are defined as an open fire that burns piled material no larger than half a metre in height and half a metre in width and is used by anyone for recreational purposes, or by First Nations for ceremonial purposes.
Open fires in an outdoor stove, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that aren’t CSA or ULC approved are also banned.
The prohibition doesn’t apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
As well, it doesn’t apply to portable campfire apparatuses with a CSA of ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel with a flame target height of 15 cm or less.
The fire ban covers all B.C. Parks, Crown and private lands.
The current fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre ranges from high to extreme and is expected to increase in the coming days with hot weather conditions forecasted.
“As Wildfire Management Branch crews and personnel face increasing fire activity from naturally occurring wildfires, it is imperative that preventable, human caused fires don’t add to the workload,” Olivia Pojar, Fire Information Officer for the Northwest Fire Centre said.
Any person found in violation of the ban can be fined up to $345, or if convicted in court face a $100,000 fine and up to one year in jail.
Additionally, if the violation contributes to a forest fire, the violator could be subjected to a fine of up to $10,000 and be ordered to cover all firefighting and associated costs of the fire.
For the latest information on wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories visit, http;//www.bcwildfires.ca.
To report a wildfire or an unattended campfire call toll-free at 1-800-663-5555, or *5555 on a cellphone.
