Effective at noon Pacific Time on Wednesday, June 24, Category 2 open fires will be prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified. The Category 3 open burning prohibition that was put in place on May 22, 2015 remains in effect.

Specifically, prohibited activities include:

• The burning of waste or other materials.
• Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.
• The use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description.
• The use of binary exploding targets.
• The use of air curtain burners (forced air burning systems).

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

This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and it does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. To learn about the differences between campfires, Category 2 open fires and Category 3 open fires, please visit: http://bit.ly/1GlhE9l

These prohibitions 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 authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in place before lighting any fire.

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

The Southeast Fire Centre covers the area extending from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. It includes the Selkirk Forest District and the Rocky Mountain Forest District.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or an open burning violation, 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, visit http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news on:

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

Media Contacts:

Jordan Turner
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Southeast Fire Centre
250 365-4014