The fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre currently ranges from “high” to “extreme”. Dry conditions are expected to continue and no substantial rainfall is in the forecast.

In order to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety, the Northwest Fire Centre will not be lifting the current campfire and open fire prohibitions at this time. These prohibitions will remain in place until Sept. 15, 2014, or until the public is notified otherwise.

The Northwest Fire Centre is battling several large fires with the assistance of crews from other parts of B.C., other provinces and Australia. All person-caused fires are preventable, and any such incidents may affect the ability of crews to respond to naturally occurring fires. The Northwest Fire Centre would like to thank the public for helping the firefighters’ efforts by abiding by the fire prohibitions.

The following activities continue to be prohibited in the Nadina Fire Zone and the Bulkley Fire Zone, and in the Skeena Fire Zone with the exception of the former North Coast Forest District:

• Campfires, as defined in the wildfire regulation
• Category 2 open fires
• Category 3 open fires
• Outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA or ULC approved
• Tiki torches
• Burn barrels
• Fireworks
• Sky lanterns

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

The prohibition does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet these conditions is prohibited.

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

Prohibitions implemented by the Northwest Fire Centre cover 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 governments for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

To report a wildfire or a violation of the open burning prohibition, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on your cellphone.

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Olivia Pojar and Marg Drysdale
Fire Information Officers
Wildfire Management Branch
Northwest Fire Centre
250 847-6639