PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Category 1 (campfires) will once again be permitted in the Peace Forest Districts, including the Dawson Creek and Fort St. John Zones.
The Category 1 campfire prohibition remains in effect for the Fort Nelson Forest District. Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibitions remain in place for the Prince George Forest District, Stuart Nechako Forest District, Mackenzie Forest District, Peace Forest District, and Fort Nelson Forest District.
Although fire danger ratings have dropped due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, the public is reminded to still exercise caution. Avoid having a campfire when it’s windy, choose a proper fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least three metres from trees, shrubs, structures and debris, and do not leave a campfire unattended for any amount of time.
Multiple factors are taken into consideration prior to restricting open fire use, including:
- Current and forecasted weather conditions
- The availability of firefighting resources
- The Buildup Index (BUI)
A Category 1 fire, or campfire, is defined as an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide. The following precautions must be in place when lighting or making use of a campfire:
- There is ready access to a shovel or at least eight litres of water the entirety of the time the campfire is lit,
- There is a fuel break around the campfire, free of any debris or combustible materials, and
- The fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the campfire for any length of time.
Category 2 and Category 3 open burning remains prohibited, as well as the use of the following:
- Fireworks and Sky Lanterns
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw). Please check with your local authorities before lighting any fire.
Please check the BC Wildfire Service Bans and Restrictions webpage for the most current prohibitions for your area.
Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.
Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may issue 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 an/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 public is one of our greatest resources when it comes to reporting wildfires. Approximately 40% of wildfires are reported by members of the public. There are a number of ways to report:
- Call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free
- Call *5555 from a cell phone
- Submit directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app
Make a plan before you go, and check for:
And stay up-to-date on the latest BC Wildfire news on:
- X (formerly Twitter)
- YouTube
- The BC Wildfire Service mobile app (download it now on Apple or Android!)
Contact:
Prince George Fire Centre Information Team
BC Wildfire Service | Ministry of Forests
250-561-4629
bcws.pgfcinformationofficer@gov.bc.ca
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect