Effective at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, all open burning (including campfires) will be prohibited in the Nadina, Bulkley and Skeena Fire Zones, with the exception of the former North Coast Forest District within the Northwest Fire Centre's jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

This prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 15, 2013, or until the public is otherwise notified.

A map of the prohibition area is available here: http://bit.ly/188FPCR

This prohibition applies to campfires and open burning of any size or description, including fires with a burn registration number and industrial burning. Note that the prohibition on Category 2 and Category 3 open fires is still in effect in all zones within the Northwest Fire Centre area.

This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 centimetres or less. The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet these conditions is prohibited.

This 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 civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

The Northwest Fire Centre responded to over 15 new fires in the past week, nearly all the result of lightning which tracked through the area. Fire danger is rated "high" to "extreme" across much of the fire centre, and more lightning-caused fires are anticipated in the coming days. These lightning-caused fires are a sobering reminder of fire hazard in the region and the heightened need for diligence with the use of fire.

As our crews and personnel face increasing fire activity from naturally caused wildfires, it is imperative that preventable, human-caused fires do not add to that workload.

Anyone found in contravention of an open-fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

This prohibition is in addition to previous restrictions on Category 2 and 3 open fires, which are in place throughout the Northwest Fire Centre.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news on -

• Twitter at: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo

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

Media Contact:

Suzanne Pearce
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Northwest Fire Centre
250 847-6639