{"id":14277,"date":"2024-04-17T14:23:36","date_gmt":"2024-04-17T21:23:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/?p=14277"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:41:49","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T18:41:49","slug":"make-sure-todays-burn-doesnt-become-tomorrows-wildfire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/make-sure-todays-burn-doesnt-become-tomorrows-wildfire\/","title":{"rendered":"Make sure today\u2019s burn doesn\u2019t become tomorrow\u2019s wildfire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Cat-1-2-3-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With many parts of B.C. experiencing an unseasonably dry spring, anyone conducting open burning will need to take extra care to ensure their burn doesn&#8217;t get out of control.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When done responsibly, open burning is a valuable tool for homeowners, farmers and resource managers to help clear land. The BC Wildfire Service often uses open burning to help reduce fuels on crown land to reduce the risk of wildfire. However, when open burning is performed by landowners under unsafe conditions, open burning can escape and result in wildfire.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Category 2 open burns are one of the leading causes of wildfire in spring<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While lightning is the primary cause of wildfires in summer, human activity causes most spring wildfires. Incident investigations conducted by the BC Wildfire Service find that Category 2 open burning is a leading cause of spring fires. In cases where a spring open burn has escaped and become a wildfire, there is almost always some element of human error.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people conducting spring open burns skip required safety measures, because they believe it is still too cold or wet for the fire to escape.\u202fIn spring it is extremely easy for the area around a burn site to ignite and spread quickly because grass and other fine fuels are quite dry after the snow melts, but vegetation has not yet begun to green up.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Early spring burns that escape containment to become wildfires typically have one or more of the following factors in common:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The burn is left unattended, even for a short duration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to plan for wind behaviour or venting conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to carefully select and prepare the burn site or manage the size of the burn pile<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to have fire suppression tools handy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to ensure the fire has been completely extinguished before leaving the site<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Burning 101: Understanding open burning categories\u202f\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Open burning is classified into four categories, which cover everything from recreational and ceremonial fires to industrial and resource management fires.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Category 1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-1024x767.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-14282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/786\/2024\/04\/Drne-Cat-1-2_-18-2048x1534.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Single fire no larger than .5 meters high by .5 meters wide<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Typically, used for recreational or first nation\u2019s ceremonial purposes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/public-safety-and-emergency-services\/wildfire-status\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/category-1-campfire-poster.pdf\">Learn more about Category 1 fires<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Category 2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Category 2 Open Fire\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IECvXo5QoG8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>One or two burn piles with fuel not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The burning of stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed .2 hectares<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples may include homeowners burning leaves and windfall, a developer burning slash to clear land for construction, or a farmer clearing a small field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category 2 fires are one of the leading causes of wildfire during the spring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/public-safety-and-emergency-services\/wildfire-status\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/category-2-brochure.pdf\">Learn more about Category 2 fires<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Category 3 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Category 3 Open Fire\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YcVarqGnlwQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Three or more open fires with fuel not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in length\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples may include forestry technicians burning slash after timber harvesting or a rancher burning pasture to improve grazing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/assets\/gov\/public-safety-and-emergency-services\/wildfire-status\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/category-3-open-fire-poster.pdf\">Learn more about Category 3 fires<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Category 4 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a resource management fire (Cultural or Prescribed) conducted to achieve a range of land stewardship objectives, which may include wildfire risk reduction or revitalization of ecosystem health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prescribedfire.ca\">Learn more about Cultural and Prescribed fire. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Before You Burn: Tips to avoid having a really bad day<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Know what category of open burn you will be conducting\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm that open burning is currently allowed and whether there are any restrictions in your area\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your burn is a Category 3 fire, you must obtain a burn registration number from the Open Fire Tracking System by calling 1-888-797-1717 or emailing\u202f<a href=\"mailto:hpr.1800@gov.bc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hpr.1800@gov.bc<\/a>. This allows the BC Wildfire Service to track regulated burning across BC, manage firefighting resources and minimize false reports of wildfires&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check the weather and venting conditions in your area. Don&#8217;t burn if venting conditions are poor or fair, or wind speed is expected to exceed 10 km per hour, or gusts are forecast (Pro tip, wind typically picks up in the early morning and late afternoon)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish a fuel break around the fire, a fuel break is a strip of land cleared down to mineral soil to prevent fire spread&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure at least one person is always monitoring the fire to prevent it from spreading&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have proper suppression tools on hand, for example: shovel, pulaski, or water source&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure the fire is fully extinguished and the site is cool to the touch before leaving it unattended&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Violators will be prosecuted\u202f<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reporting<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you see a fire and have concerns about whether it&#8217;s a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, call 1800.663.555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone to report.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Resources to Help You Burn Responsibly<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Burning Best Practices for Farmers and Ranchers<\/strong>&nbsp;<br>https:\/\/firesmartbc.ca\/resource\/open-burning-practices-for-farmers-and-ranchers\/&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bans and restrictions<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Burning<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/open-burning#Cat1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/open-burning#Cat1<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Register Your Burn<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/ofts-burn-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/prevention\/fire-bans-and-restrictions\/ofts-burn-registration<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wind Conditions In Your Area<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.windy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.windy.com\/<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Venting Index<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.env.gov.bc.ca\/epd\/epdpa\/venting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.env.gov.bc.ca\/epd\/epdpa\/venting\/<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Open Burning Smoke Regulation<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/air-land-water\/air\/air-pollution\/smoke-burning\/regulations\/openburningregulation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/environment\/air-land-water\/air\/air-pollution\/smoke-burning\/regulations\/openburningregulation<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BC Drought Info Portal<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=838d533d8062411c820eef50b08f7ebc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/governmentofbc.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/MapSeries\/index.html?appid=838d533d8062411c820eef50b08f7ebc<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Causes of B.C. Wildfires<\/strong>&nbsp;<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/wildfire-response\/what-causes-wildfire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www2.gov.bc.ca\/gov\/content\/safety\/wildfire-status\/wildfire-response\/what-causes-wildfire<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With many parts of B.C. experiencing an unseasonably dry spring, anyone conducting open burning will need to take extra care to ensure their burn doesn&#8217;t get out of control.\u00a0 When done responsibly, open burning is a valuable tool for homeowners, farmers and resource managers to help clear land. The BC Wildfire Service often uses open &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/make-sure-todays-burn-doesnt-become-tomorrows-wildfire\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3973,"featured_media":14287,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[57],"class_list":["post-14277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-learning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3973"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14277"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14297,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14277\/revisions\/14297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.gov.bc.ca\/bcwildfire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}