PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, May 19, 2023, all open fire will be prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre. This prohibition applies to campfires (Category 1), Category 2 and Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.
This prohibition will remain in effect until 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday, October 15, 2023 or until it is otherwise rescinded. Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw). A map outlining the area affected by this prohibition is available online and below.
In addition to prohibiting the use of open fire of any size, the following activities and apparatus are also prohibited:
- Tiki and/or similar kinds of torches
- Chimineas
- Outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating
- Fireworks
- Sky lanterns
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
- Air curtain burners
During campfire prohibitions, only CSA-rated or ULC-rated outdoor stoves or portable campfire apparatus that use gas, propane or briquettes may be used; however, when conditions warrant, the use of portable campfire apparatus or outdoor stoves may be further restricted or prohibited. Please check our website for current prohibitions in your area.
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.
The B.C. government recognizes that camping is a long-standing tradition in this province and that people enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.
Multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement an open fire prohibition, including:
- 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 prohibitions are implemented based on the particular region’s BUI values. The BUI allows B.C.’s six fire centres to follow a consistent and scientific process for evaluating the need for campfire prohibitions.
Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, please call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free, *5555 on a cell phone or directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app. For updates on the current wildfire situation, including full incident details for Wildfires of Note, please visit BCWildfire.ca.
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Contact:
Fire Information Officer
Prince George Fire Centre
BC Wildfire Service | Ministry of Forests
250-561-4629
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect