Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, open burning will once again be permitted throughout the Prince George Fire Centre due to cooler and wetter weather conditions.  

Clearing and burning activities at this time of year can help reduce interface wildfire risks, but any open burning must be done safely. Homeowners and industry personnel are encouraged to visit the Wildfire Management Branch website at www.bcwildfire.ca/Prevention for more information and to take the following precautions:

• Ensure that enough people, water and tools are on hand to control the fire and prevent it from escaping.
• Do not burn during windy conditions. Weather conditions can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires.
• Create a fireguard at least one metre around the planned fire site by clearing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Make sure that your fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before you leave the area for any length of time.

People planning to conduct an open burn should also check with their local fire department, municipality and regional district to see if they have any open burning restrictions or bylaws in place.

The cooler and wetter weather conditions have also led to decreased fire activity on the Forres Mountain wildfire and the Tenakihi-Mesilionka Complex wildfire. This has prompted the rescinding of an existing area restriction around these fires and the lifting of the Peace River Regional District’s evacuation alert for the community of Tsah Key Dene.

More information about the lifting of the Peace River Regional District’s evacuation alert is available online at: http://www.prrd.bc.ca/emergency.php

The Prince George Fire Centre covers an area from Yukon and the Northwest Territories in the north to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the Cottonwood River and the Robson Valley in the south, and from the Alberta border in the east to the Skeena Mountains in the west.

If you spot a wildfire, please report it immediately by calling 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on most cellphones.

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 B.C. wildfire news:

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

Media Contact:

Jill Kelsh
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Prince George Fire Centre
250 565-6129