Effective at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 18, 2014, campfires will once again be permitted throughout the Northwest Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. The Northwest Fire Centre is rescinding its campfire prohibition due to forecasted cool and rainy weather conditions.

The following activities will now be allowed:

• campfires, as defined by the wildfire regulation
• outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses
• open fires in an outdoor stove
• tiki torches

However, an open burning prohibition remains in effect for the following areas within the Skeena Region:

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

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/1ro3ITA  

Prohibited activities include Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation, as well as sky lanterns and fireworks. These prohibitions apply to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but don’t apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local authorities for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.

The open burning prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 15, 2014, or until the public is otherwise notified.

The Northwest Fire Centre urges members of the public to always check the Wildfire Management Branch website (www.bcwildfire.ca) before conducting any burning, since prohibitions may change.

Campfires must not be larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool (such as a shovel) or at least eight litres of water nearby to fully extinguish the campfire. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure the ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

The Northwest Fire Centre would like to thank the public for respecting open burning prohibitions. Public compliance has greatly assisted the Wildfire Management Branch’s efforts during this period of heightened fire danger. The Northwest Fire Centre covers the area from the north coast to 10 kilometres west of Endako, and from the Yukon border to the northern portion of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.

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: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

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