Open burning in Prince George Fire Centre to be prohibited next week

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C.  — A Category 2 and Category 3 open burning ban will be in effect around northeast B.C next week, according to the Prince George Fire Centre.

The ban will begin on March 28th at 12 p.m. and remain in effect until October 15th, 2024, or until the order is rescinded.

According to the BC Wildfire Service website, the ban is being implemented to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety due to the high grass fire hazard, persistent drought conditions and increased incidence of human-caused wildfires associated with Category 2 and Category 3 open burning.

Multiple factors are considered when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement Open Fire Prohibitions, including drought conditions, weather, and firefighting resources.

Category 2 fires refer to fires in a pile exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width and stubble or grass over an area that doesn’t exceed 0.2 hectares.

Category 3 fires refer to open fires with material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width, fires with windrows, none of which exceed 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width and fires with Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.

The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances will also be prohibited:

• Fireworks
• Sky lanterns
• Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• Binary exploding targets

This prohibition does not apply to category one fires, which are campfires that are half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller, or the use of cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

 The provincial government is urging the public and industry to be extra vigilant when monitoring and ensuring the extinguishing of open burns.