WILLIAMS LAKE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Friday, July 12, 2024, Category 1 campfires will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre and the Tsilhqot’in (Xeni Gwet’in) Declared Title Area. This prohibition will remain in effect until 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, or until the order is rescinded.
A Category 1 campfire is defined as any fire smaller than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province. The Cariboo Fire Centre recognizes that members of the community enjoy having campfires, and so takes any decision to implement a campfire ban seriously. The BC Wildfire Service is constantly monitoring current and forecasted conditions and maintaining preparedness.
In addition to Category 1 campfires, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, the prohibited activities will now be expanded to the following:
- Fireworks
- Sky lanterns
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
- Tiki and similar kinds of torches
- Chimineas
- Air curtain burners
This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall. The use of a campfire apparatus that does not meet these specifications is prohibited.
A map of the affected area is available online and below.
As a reminder, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires have been prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre since March 28, 2024.
Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from naturally caused fires. Always practice safe, responsible open fire use. 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 a 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, *5555 on a cell phone or report directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
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Contact:
Fire Information Officer
Cariboo Fire Centre
BC Wildfire Service
778 799-2100
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.