On July 31, the Category 1 Open Burning prohibition was rescinded in the Prince George and Northwest Fire Centres.
But before that could take place, the Prince George Fire Centre backtracked on that decision, deciding the risk was still too high.
But as of August 11, Category 1 fires are back, baby!
Category 1 fires are campfires that are less than 0.5 m high or wide. Larger bonfires are considered category 2 fires, and are still prohibited.
Category 2 fires (to 2 m high and 3 m wide) and Category 3 open burning prohibitions remain in place throughout the Prince George Fire Centre. This prohibition will remain in effect until 12:00 noon, Sunday October 15, 2023 or until it the order is rescinded.
Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw).
In addition to the above prohibitions, the following activities remain prohibited:
- Fireworks
- Sky Lanterns
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
- Air Curtain Burners
According to the Prince George Fire Centre, multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement an open fire prohibition. These include: current and forecasted weather conditions; the availability of firefighting resources; and the Buildup Index (BUI). The BUI rating is an estimate of the total amount of fuel available for combustion on the landscape. It takes into account the fuel’s moisture content, since that can affect fire intensity. Campfire and Open-burning prohibitions are implemented based on the particular region’s BUI values. The BUI allows the province’s six fire centres to follow a consistent and scientific process for evaluating the need for campfire prohibitions.”
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, may be 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.
For updates on the current wildfire situation, including full incident details for Wildfires of Note, please visit BCWildfire.ca.
The following precautions must be in place when lighting or making use of a campfire:
There is ready access to a shovel or at least eight litres of water the entirety of the time the campfire is lit
There is a fuel break around the campfire, free of any debris or combustible materials
The fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the campfire for any length of time
Of course, this may change again. Keep an eye on our Facebook page or our website, at www.tumblerridgelines.com.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
