Category 2 open burning to be prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre

July 3, 2024

CASTLEGAR – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Friday, July 5, 2024, Category 2 open burning will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre, which includes the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District.

Anyone conducting a Category 2 fire anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction must extinguish it by 12 p.m. (noon) PDT on Friday, July 5, 2024.

This prohibition will remain in place until 12 p.m. (noon) PDT Oct. 28, 2024 or until the public is otherwise notified. This prohibition does not include Category 1 campfire.

A map indicating the areas affected by this prohibition is available online and below.

24_southeast_map_s10s12_prohibition_color_8x11l_info_jun27 Download

This prohibits the use of the following:

Category 2 open fire that burns:

Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
Material concurrently in 2 piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares

Also prohibited is the equipment and activities listed below (Wildfire Act, Section 12):

Fireworks
Sky Lanterns
Binary Exploding Targets
Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
Air Curtain Burners

Reminder that Category 3 open fires have been prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre since Friday, May 17, 2024.

Prohibited Category 3 open fire includes:

Material concurrently in 3 or more piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width
One or more windrows, none of which exceed 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares

More information on the different categories and sizes of open burning is available online.

This prohibition applies to all public and private land, unless specified otherwise (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, 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 Southeast Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air-quality advisories, visit: bcwildfire.ca.

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