Campfire ban remains in Fort St. John as it’s lifted elsewhere in fire centre

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Two weeks after implementing a campfire ban across the Prince George Fire Centre, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is now easing restrictions in some areas.

As of noon on Tuesday, September 23rd, category one open fires, including campfires, are once again permitted in the Prince George, Robson Valley, Mackenzie and VanJam fire zones.

The decision comes after cooler temperatures and rainfall lowered wildfire risks in parts of the region.

However, campfires remain prohibited in the Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson fire zones, which cover the Peace Forest District and Fort Nelson Forest District. In these areas, the September 8th ban remains in effect.

Even where campfires are allowed, the BCWS reminded residents of those areas that the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels and binary exploding targets continues to be banned. 

In the zones where the campfire ban remains in effect, the list of prohibited items also includes tiki torches, chimineas and any outdoor stoves without a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) rating.

Category two and three open fire bans remain in place throughout the entire Prince George Fire Centre. The BCWS said the order will remain in place until October 15th unless lifted earlier.

The BCWS is reminding residents to exercise caution with campfires, keeping them small, supervised and fully extinguished before leaving. Anyone found violating prohibitions could face fines of up to $100,000 or even jail time if convicted.

The public is also encouraged to report wildfires or unattended campfires by calling 1-800-663-5555, dialing *5555 on a cell phone or using the BCWS app.

For the latest updates on bans and restrictions, visit the BCWS’ website.