Effective at 4 p.m. on July 17, 2014, campfires and open burning will be prohibited in some portions of the Northwest Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

The prohibitions cover the following forest districts within the Skeena Forest Region. A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/1rckIMB

• Nadina Forest District
• Skeena Stikine Forest District (excluding the old Cassiar Forest District)
• Coast Mountain Forest District (excluding the former North Coast Forest District)

This prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 15, 2014, or until the public is otherwise notified. Specifically, prohibited activities include:

• Category 2 open fires
• Category 3 open fires
• campfires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA or ULC approved
• open fires in an outdoor stove
• fireworks, tiki torches and sky lanterns

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 height 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 local authorities for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.

The fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre currently ranges from “high” to “extreme” and is expected to increase in the coming days, due to forecasted weather conditions. As Wildfire Management Branch crews and personnel face increasing fire activity from naturally occurring 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.

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 Contacts:

Olivia Pojar
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Northwest Fire Centre
250 847-6639