Effective at noon on Friday, July 25, 2014, campfires will once again be permitted in the Cariboo Fire Centre east of the Fraser River. The Cariboo Fire Centre is rescinding its campfire prohibition in this area due to cool and wet weather conditions.

The following uses will now be allowed in areas east of the Fraser River:

• campfires, as defined by the wildfire regulation
• open fires in an outdoor stove

Campfires remain prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre west of the Fraser River, due to dry conditions and higher fire danger ratings.

The public is reminded that campfires cannot be larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool (such as a shovel) or at least eight litres of water available to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure that the ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the entire Cariboo Fire Centre. This includes the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and burning barrels.

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/1x7lRDk  

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

Prohibitions implemented by the Cariboo Fire Centre covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not 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 Cariboo Fire Centre covers an area of about 10.3 million hectares, stretching from Loon Lake in the south to just north of Quesnel at the Cottonwood River. From east to west, the boundaries stretch from the western edge of Wells Gray Provincial Park to the eastern boundary of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.

Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling 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: www.bcwildfire.ca

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Media Contacts:

Sandra Wagner
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665