Category 1 campfire prohibition planned for the Cassiar Fire Zone and Bulkley Fire Zone



SMITHERS – Due to the current and forecasted weather conditions, in addition to the planned campfire ban for the Bulkley Fire Zone, a Category 1 campfire prohibition will be put into effect for the Cassiar Fire Zone at 12:00 (noon) (PDT) on Thursday, July 6, 2023.

The Cassiar Fire Zone includes the Stikine portion of the Skeena Stikine Forest District. It ranges from the Alaskan Panhandle in the west to the Liard River Bridge in the east, and from the Yukon border in the north to Bob Quinn in the south.

The Bulkley Fire Zone includes the Skeena portion of the Skeena Stikine Forest District. It ranges from Hungry Hill in the east to Little Oliver Creek in the west along Highway 16.

This campfire prohibition will help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

A campfire prohibition for the Nadina Fire Zone and province-wide Category 2 and 3 prohibitions on open burning remain in effect. To view restrictions specific to your region, visit the fire bans and restrictions webpage.

Prohibited activities that would constitute a Category 1 campfire include:

  • 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.

Anyone conducting a Category 1 campfire anywhere in the Cassiar Fire Zone must extinguish it by 12:00 (noon) PDT, July 6, 2023. This prohibition will remain in place until September 30, 2023, at 12 (noon) PDT or until the public is otherwise notified.

View a map of the affected area.

The Category 1 campfire prohibition includes all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands.

Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires. Always practice safe, responsible fire use where permitted.

Check with your local government or other jurisdictional authorities before lighting a fire of any size since they may have their own restrictions in place.

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.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.

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Contact:

BC Wildfire Service
Fire Information Officer
Northwest Fire Centre
BCWS.NWFCInformationOfficer@gov.bc.ca
250-876-6844

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