The campfire ban remains in effect throughout the Prince George Fire centre. This does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

Despite cooler and unsettled weather, areas of the Prince George Fire Centre remain in a high-to-extreme fire danger rating. With only a couple days of warm, dry weather, the fire risk will increase and the threat of wildfires will increase.

Over 30 active fires remain in the Prince George Fire centre, with over 100 firefighters working hard to suppress them. It is important that all our resources go toward natural, lightning-caused fires rather than human-caused fires.

Specifically, prohibited activities will include:

• The burning of stubble or grass.
• Any open fire, including campfires.
• Fireworks and firecrackers.
• Burn barrels.
• Tiki torches and similar kinds of torches.

This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest-fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local authorities regarding any current prohibitions.

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.

For information about open burning and tips on making responsible burning decisions, please download an open burning guide: http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cellphone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free.

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 wildfire news ─

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

Media Contacts:

Jillian Kelsh
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Prince George Fire Centre
250 565-6129 (office)
250 961-4176 (cell)