SMITHERS – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, the Category 1 (campfires) Open Burning prohibition will be rescinded in the Prince George and Northwest Fire Centres. Fire danger is constantly being measured and campfire prohibitions may return in either region if conditions change. The current prohibition for any Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remains in effect.

Although fire danger ratings have dropped due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, the public is reminded to still exercise caution. Avoid having a campfire when it’s windy, choose a proper fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least three metres from trees, shrubs, structures and debris, and do not leave a campfire unattended for any amount of time.

Multiple factors are taken into consideration prior to restricting open fire use, including:

• Current and forecasted weather conditions
• The availability of firefighting resources
• The Buildup Index (BUI)

A Category 1 fire, or campfire, is defined as an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide. 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, and
• The fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the campfire for any length of time.

Category 2 and Category 3 open burning remains prohibited, as well as the use of the following:

• Fireworks
• Sky Lanterns
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
• Binary exploding targets

Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw). Please check with your local authorities before lighting any fire.

Maps outlining the prohibition areas for the Northwest Fire Centre and Prince George Fire Centre are available online and below.

Please check the BC Wildfire Service Bans and Restrictions webpage for the most current prohibitions for your area.

Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.

Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may issue 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 an/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.

Be safe this summer and always report smoke, wildfire and unattended campfires.

The public is one of our greatest resources when it comes to reporting wildfires. Approximately 40% of wildfires are reported by members of the public. There are a number of ways to report:

• Call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free
• Call *5555 from a cell phone
• Submit directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app

Make a plan before you go and check for:

• The latest road conditions
• Smoke forecasts
• Air quality advisories
• Evacuation alerts and orders

Follow the latest wildfire news:

• on Twitter
• on Facebook
• on YouTube
• on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.