Fire Ban - Category 1 - Returns to Fort Nelson Area

 
For Immediate Release 
 
August 30, 2023
Ministry of Forests
BC Wildfire Service

Partial Category 1 (Campfires) ban in Prince George Fire Centre 
PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at 12:00 (noon) on Thursday, August 31, 2023, Category 1 (campfires) are prohibited across the VanJam, Mackenzie and Fort Nelson fire zones in the Prince George Fire Centre. This prohibition applies to campfires (Category 1) as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.
 
This prohibition covers the Stuart, Mackenzie and Fort Nelson Forest Districts and will remain in effect until 12:00 (noon) on Sunday, October 15, 2023 or until it is rescinded. Prohibitions apply to all public and private lands unless otherwise specified (e.g. in an enactment or local government bylaw). A map outlining the area of this prohibition is below.
 
In addition to prohibiting the use of open fire of any size, the following activities are prohibited:

• Fireworks
• Sky lanterns
• Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• Binary exploding targets
• Air curtain burners
• Chimineas
• Tiki and similar kinds of torches
• Outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating

This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As outlined in the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance, that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height less than 15 centimetres tall.
 
Please check the BC Wildfire Service Bans and Restrictions webpage for the most current prohibitions for your area.
 
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.



 
Please note: Red indicates areas where all Category 1, 2 and 3 open fires are banned while yellow indicates Category 2 and 3 open fires are banned.
 
Multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement an open fire prohibition, including: current and forecasted weather conditions; the availability of firefighting resources; and the Buildup Index (BUI).
 
The BUI rating is an estimate of the total amount of fuel available for combustion on the landscape. It takes into account the fuel’s moisture content, since that can affect fire intensity.
 
Campfire prohibitions are implemented based on the particular region’s BUI values. The BUI allows the province’s six fire centres to follow a consistent and scientific process for evaluating the need for campfire prohibitions.
 
Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.
 
For updates on the current wildfire situation, including full incident details for Wildfires of Note, please visit BCWildfire.ca.
 
You can follow the latest BC Wildfire news on:

• Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
• The free BCWS mobile app, available to download for Apple and Android devices.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, please call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free, *5555 on a cell phone or directly through the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.
 
 
Contact:
Prince George Fire Centre Information Team
BC Wildfire Service | Ministry of Forests
250-561-4629
 
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect
​