Effective at 12 noon on Thursday, Aug. 1, all campfires are banned in all areas of the southern Cariboo Fire Centre.

A map of the area covered by the campfire ban is available online at: http://ow.ly/ntHwv

This step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public. The fire danger rating is currently high throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre, with scattered pockets of extreme.

With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have the potential to display aggressive behaviour and require additional fire suppression resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires.

Open burning is prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre. This prohibition applies to open fires of any size, industrial or backyard burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels.

This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

The open burning prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.

Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban, including campfires, may be issued a ticket of up to $345. Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness may be fined up to $1 million, spend up to three years in prison and be held accountable for associated firefighting costs.

This prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 30, 2013, or until the public is informed otherwise.

To report a wildfire or noncompliant open burning, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can follow the latest wildfire news -

• On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

• On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contact:

Greig Bethel
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665
Greig.Bethel@gov.bc.ca