Burning to be restricted throughout Cariboo Fire Centre

Effective at noon on Monday, June 19, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

“As of June 14 we’ve got fire danger ratings largely moderate to high across the Fire Centre, however, we do have pockets of extreme fire danger rating in the Alexis Creek, Tatla Lake, and Nemiah valley areas,” says fire information officer Natasha Broznitsky.

“So far we’ve had 38 fires this year and they have burned 192 hectares. 34 of this these fires have been human caused.”

Larger Category 3 open fires have been prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre since April 13, 2017.

Both Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will remain prohibited until Sept. 30, 2017 or until the public is otherwise notified.

Specifically, prohibited activities will include:

• the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
•  stubble or grass fires of any size over any area
• the use of burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of exploding binary targets (e.g. for target practice)
• the use of fireworks

These prohibitions do not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and do not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

These prohibitions apply to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, and air quality advisories visit www.bcwildfire.ca