The fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre ranges from high to extreme. Dry conditions are expected to continue and no substantial rainfall is in the forecast.
In order to prevent human-caused wildfires, the Northwest Fire Centre will not lift the current campfire and open fire prohibitions, which will remain in place until September 15, or until the public is notified otherwise.
The Northwest Fire Centre battles several large fires with the help of crews from other parts of B.C., other provinces and Australia. Person-caused fires are preventable and hinder the ability of crews to respond to naturally occurring fires.
The following activities are prohibited in the Nadina, Bulkley and Skeena Fire Zones, with the exception of the former North Coast Forest District:
– Campfires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
– Category 2 and 3 open fires
– Outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA or ULC approved, such as tiki torches, burn barrels, fireworks and sky lanterns.
A map of the affected areas is available online here.
The prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet these conditions is prohibited.
Anyone found in violation of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket of up to $345 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
Prohibitions implemented by the Northwest Fire Centre cover all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply in boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.
To report a wildfire or violation of the prohibition, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on your cellphone.
For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit www.bcwildfire.ca. You can also follow the latest wildfire news at twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo or facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo.
