Category 2 Fire Prohibition Order Expanded to Include the Robson Valley Fire Zone



PRINCE GEORGE– Effective at 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, May 5, 2023, Category 2 open burning is prohibited within the the Peace Forest District, Fort Nelson Forest District and the Robson Valley Fire Zone. This prohibition remains in force until the earlier of 12:00 noon PDT on June 2, 2023 or until the Order is rescinded.

All persons lighting, fuelling, or using any of the open fires listed above within the restricted area are to cease doing so and to extinguish all such fires.

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

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

This prohibition has been implemented to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety due to the high grass fire hazard and increased incidence of human-caused wildfires associated with Category 2 burning.

This prohibition order does not apply to campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller), cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or registered Category 3 burns.

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.

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Contact:
Prince George Fire Centre Information
250-561-4629
BCWS.PGFCInformationOfficer@gov.bc.ca

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