Open fire prohibition planned for parts of the Prince George Fire Centre



PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, May 16, 2025, Category 2 and Category 3 open burning will be prohibited in the Fort Nelson and Peace Forest Districts (Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson Zones).

A Category 2 open fire, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that burns:

  • One pile of material not exceeding 2 metres high and 3 metres wide
  • Two piles of material, each not exceeding 2 metres high and 3 metres wide
  • Stubble or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)

A Category 3 open fire, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation, refers to any fire that burns:

  • Three or more piles of material, each not exceeding 2 metres high and 3 metres wide
  • Any pile of material larger than 2 metres high or 3 metres wide
  • Windrows not exceeding 200 metres in length and 15 metres in width
  • Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)

This prohibition will remain in effect until 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday October 15, 2025, or until the order is rescinded.

Additional Prohibited Activities and Equipment

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

  • Fireworks
  • Sky lanterns
  • Burn barrels or burn cages of any size
  • Binary exploding targets

This prohibition does not ban Category 1 (campfires) that are a half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller, or the use of cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

Where This Prohibition Applies

This prohibition applies to all areas of the Fort Nelson and Peace Forest Districts (Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Fort Nelson Zones) that are outside municipal boundaries. It also applies to the following types of Crown land within municipal boundaries:

  • Parks, conservancies, and recreation areas (Park Act)
  • Recreation sites, trails, and interpretive forest sites (Forest and Range Practices Act)
  • Ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act)
  • Wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act)
  • Private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act)

Map of the affected area will be available May 14, 2025.

Why This Ban Is Being Issued

Multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement Open Fire Prohibitions, including drought conditions, current and forecasted weather, the availability of fire fighting resources and the Buildup Index (BUI).

This prohibition is being implemented to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety due to the high grass fire hazard, persistent drought conditions and increased incidence of human-caused wildfires associated with Category 2 and Category 3 open burning.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Individuals who violate the open fire prohibition may face fines of up to $1,150, administrative penalties of up to $10,000, or court convictions with fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in jail. If a prohibited fire leads to a wildfire, the individual may be held responsible for the full cost of firefighting and any damage to Crown resources. More information about the Wildfire Act and Regulation is available online.

How to Report a Fire or Violation

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 Officer
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