Open fires prohibited in Prince George Fire Centre starting Friday

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — All open fires will be prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre starting Friday, May 19th at noon, according to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

The ban will apply to Category 1, 2 and 3 fires.

Bans were previously put in place for Category 2 and 3 burns in parts of the Prince George Fire Centre earlier this month.

A Category 1 campfire is a fire no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide. It is used by any person for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose, according to the Government of B.C.

Category 2 refers 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.

The prohibition also applies to Category 3 burns, which are fires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller), cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

The ban will remain in effect until noon on Sunday, October 15th, 2023 or until it is rescinded.

The prohibition applies to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified, such as in an enactment or local government bylaw.

In addition to a ban on any open fire, the following is also prohibited:

• The use of tiki and similar kinds of torches;
• The use of chimineas;
• The use of outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating;
• The use of fireworks and sky lanterns;
• The use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size;
• The use of binary exploding targets or air curtain burners.

BCWS says that only CSA-rated or ULC-rated outdoor stoves or portable campfire apparatuses that use gas, propane or briquettes can be used during this prohibition.

Despite this, portable campfire apparatus or outdoor stoves may be further restricted or prohibited if conditions change.

Anyone found violating the prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000, or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000, with a possible jail sentence of one year.

If the violation causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all associated costs with fighting the fire.

BCWS says human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert resources away from naturally caused wildfires.

The wildfires of note currently active in the Peace region include the Red Creek, Stoddart Creek, Cameron River and Donnie Creek wildfires.

In the Prince George Fire Centre, there are currently 23 active wildfires.

For updates on wildfires, visit BCWS’ website.