Effective tomorrow (May 4) at noon Category 3 open fires will be prohibited across the entire Cariboo Fire Centre region.
That includes the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District, the 100 Mile House Forest District and the Quesnel Forest District.
Prohibited activities that would constitute a Category 3 open fire include:
Any fires larger than 2 meters high by 3 meters wide.
Three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than 2 meters high by 3 meters wide.
Burning of 1 or more windows and burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
Anyone conducting a Category 3 open fire anywhere in the Cariboo region must extinguish any such fire by noon tomorrow (May 4).
This prohibition will remain in effect until noon October 27 or until the public is otherwise notified.
It does not include campfires that are a half meter high by a half meter wide or smaller, and cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
Category 2 fires, which include one or two concurrently burning piles up to two meters high by three meters wide, or the burning of stubble or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares, is not banned.
The Category 3 open fire prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.
Check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.