Effective at noon on April 27, 2015, Category 3 open burning will be prohibited by the Wildfire Management Branch throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

Specifically, this order prohibits fires that burn:

• material concurrently in three or more piles, each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width; or
• material in one or more piles, each exceeding two metres in height or three metres in width; or
• one or more windrows; or
• stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares (more than 2,000 square metres).

The prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 30, 2015, or until the public is otherwise notified.

This prohibition does not apply to campfires, cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or open fires that are two metres by three metres or smaller. People must ensure that such fires are not lit or kept burning during windy conditions and that adequate tools, water and people are on hand to contain the fire. They must also make sure that the fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

This prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws in place and are serviced by fire departments. Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting a fire.

So far this season, the Wildfire Management Branch’s Cariboo Fire Centre has responded to 16 wildfire incidents, all of which were human-caused and therefore preventable.

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 may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The Cariboo Fire Centre stretches from Loon Lake near Clinton in the south to the Cottonwood River near Quesnel in the north and from Tweedsmuir Provincial Park in the west to Wells Gray Provincial Park in the east.

For a map of affected areas within the Cariboo Fire Centre, please visit: http://bit.ly/1Gfc3hg

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or non-compliant open burning, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1 888 3FOREST.

You can follow the latest wildfire news on:

Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Emily Epp
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Cariboo Fire Centre
250 989-2665