Category 2 & 3 open fire prohibition extended in Prince George Fire Centre



PRINCE GEORGE– The BC Wildfire Service has extended the Category 2 and 3 open fire prohibition throughout the Prince George Fire Centre’s (PGFC) jurisdiction. This Order takes effect at 12 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on Saturday, October 15, 2022 and remains in force until the earlier of 12 p.m. PDT on October 28, 2022 or until the order is rescinded.

This prohibition has been extended to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety due to the above-normal drought conditions across the PGFC. Drought conditions can be attributed to warmer seasonal temperatures and below normal rainfall. Many areas of B.C. have set temperature records in recent weeks and accumulated rainfall amounts through September were below normal levels.

The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances also remain prohibited:

  • Category 2 open fires
  • Category 3 open fires
  • Fireworks
  • Air Curtain Burners
  • Sky Lanterns
  • Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
  • Binary exploding targets

This prohibition order does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

A map of the affected area is available here.

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

More information on open burning is available on the BC Wildfire Service website.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone or through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.

Follow the latest wildfire news:

Contact:
Prince George Fire Centre Information Team
BC Wildfire Service
Ministry of Forests
(250) 561-4629
INFOPG@gov.bc.ca

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