SMITHERS – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) today, Thursday July 28, 2022, Category 2 and 3 open burning activities are prohibited throughout the Northwest Fire Centre (NWFC). This prohibition is in response to the elevated temperatures and dry conditions and is being enacted to help reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

This prohibition will remain in effect until 12:00 pm (noon) on October 15, 2022, or until the order is rescinded.

A map of the affected area can be found here.

The following activities will be prohibited until monitored weather conditions are favourable for these activities to resume.

category 2 open fires
a) material in 1 or 2 piles not exceeding 2-metres in height and 3-metres in width
b) stubble or grass burning over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares

category 3 open fires
a) any fire larger than 2-metres high by 3-metres wide
b) 3 or more concurrently burning piles no larger than 2-metres high by 3-metres wide
c) 1 or more burning windrows
d) stubble or grass burning over an area greater than 0.2 hectares

Also prohibited are the activities listed below:
• Fireworks
• Sky lanterns
• Binary exploding targets
• Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• Air curtain burners

This prohibition order does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. A poster outlining campfire regulations is available online.

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.

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:
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Northwest Fire Centre
250-876-6844

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