t’s nearly October, and much of the Prince George Fire Centre (PGFC) remains under a total fire ban, including a ban on category 1 campfires that went into place on Wednesday, September 20, which prohibits all fires across parts of the Fire Centre, including the VanJam, Mackenzie, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John and—you guessed it—Dawson Creek fire zones. (Tumbler Ridge is in this latter zone.)
This prohibition will remain in effect until 12:00 (noon) on Sunday, October 15, 2023, or until it is rescinded. Basically, once we get some significant rainfall.
Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw).
In addition to prohibiting the use of open fire of any size, the following activities are prohibited:
- Fireworks
- Sky lanterns
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
- Air curtain burners
- Chimineas
- Tiki and similar kinds of torches
- Outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating
This prohibition does not include the use of CSA or ULC outdoor stoves. This includes devices used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance, that burn charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height less than 15 centimeters tall.
Category 2 and higher fires haven’t been allowed since spring. Category 1 fires were banned for most of the summer. They were lifted on August 11 after an attempt to lift the ban was pre-empted a few weeks earlier.
Strong winds recently caused the slumbering West Kiskatinaw fire to start to exhibit some minor fire behaviour earlier this month.
And, with the hunting season now underway, hunters are asked to be careful when out in the bush. This includes slowing down and driving carefully along forest service roads as crews and equipment may be working, monitoring and calling on resource road channels as per call protocols, and remaining vigilant in areas impacted by fire as wildfires, which may have compromised the root systems of trees and they may be unstable and fall easily.
According to the PGFC, the north continues to experience persistent drought conditions that have carried through the entire season. “We recorded unseasonably high temperatures this summer, minimal precipitation and several significant wind events,” says an email from the PGFC. “These conditions have contributed to the wildfire situation we are currently in.”
There are currently 130 active fires across the PGFC with 59 classified as Out of Control.
Since April 1, a total of 664 fires have occurred in the PRFC and have burned nearly two million hectares.
“While the majority of wildfires that occur in the summer are typically lightning-caused, with the return to more seasonal conditions in the fall, there is an increasing probability of human-caused fires,” says the PGFC. “These fires divert critical resources and personnel away from existing incidents.”
This means that they will keep the fire ban in place, at least for now. “The BC government recognizes that hunting and camping are long-standing traditions in this province and that people enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.”
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined as much as $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.
As a result of increased fire activity, some area restrictions have come back into play, including around parts of the Donny Creek Fire, north of Fort St John.
That fire has burned more than half a million hectares by itself, and is closing in on 600,000 ha.
There are no area restrictions around Tumbler Ridge. The nearest is at the Stoddart Creek fire, about 40 km north of Charlie Lake.
“To ensure your own personal safety, the BC Wildfire Service encourages you to remain vigilant while in the back country and to know where you are located in relation to active wildfires. Even if you cannot see smoke or flame, significant safety hazards (e.g. danger trees, ash pits) may be present.
“If there are alternative locations (away from wildfires) available to you, you are encouraged to adjust travel plans to maintain your safety.”
Additionally, anyone riding an all-terrain vehicle (or similar) on or within 300 metres of forested land or rangeland must have a spark arrestor installed on their vehicle. “To help reduce wildfire risks, check the condition of the muffler, clear buildups of grass or other vegetation from hot spots on a regular basis, stay on dirt paths and avoid tall grass and weeds.”
For more info on BC Wildfires visit www.bcwildfire.ca. To report a wildfire call 1-800-663-5555 or text *5555.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.