Category 1 (campfire) prohibition rescinded in parts of the Prince George Fire Centre

September 23, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on September 23, 2025, the Category 1 Open Fire (campfires) prohibition is rescinded in some areas of the Prince George Fire Centre. Campfires will be permitted in the Prince George Fire Zone, Robson Valley Fire Zone, VanJam Fire Zone, and Mackenzie Fire Zone (Prince George Forest District, the Mackenzie Forest District, and the Stuart Nechako Forest District).

The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances are prohibited in the Fire Zones listed above:

Fireworks, including firecrackers
Sky lanterns
Burn barrels or burn cages of any size
Binary exploding targets

Campfires remain prohibited in the Fort St. John Fire Zone, Dawson Creek Fire Zone, and Fort Nelson Fire Zone (Peace Forest District and the Fort Nelson Forest District). This prohibition applies to campfires (Category 1) as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.

The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances are prohibited in the Fire Zones listed above:

Tiki and similar kinds of torches
Chimineas
Outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating
Fireworks, including firecrackers
Sky Lanterns
Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
Binary exploding targets

Category 2 and 3 open fire prohibitions remain in place for the entire Prince George Fire Centre.

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.

This Order remains in force until the earlier of 12:00 noon PDT on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, or until the Order is rescinded.

25 PrinceGeorge MAP S10S12 Prohibition Color 8X11P Info Sep 22 Download

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.

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.

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.