Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, open burning will once again be permitted throughout the Northwest Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Open burning prohibitions in the Bulkley Fire Zone, Skeena Fire Zone and Cassiar Fire Zone were lifted on Aug. 4, 2015. Since then, cooler temperatures and increased precipitation have also lowered the wildfire risk in the Nadina Fire Zone, allowing the open burning prohibition there to be lifted as well.

Although clearing and burning activities can help mitigate interface wildfire risks, any open burning must be done safely. Homeowners and industry personnel are encouraged to visit the BC Wildfire Service website at www.bcwildfire.ca/Prevention and take the following precautions:

• Ensure that enough people, water and tools are on hand to control the fire and prevent its escape.
• 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 of 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 the fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Before conducting any burn, check with your local fire department, municipality and regional district to see if any other open burning restrictions or bylaws are in effect.

The Northwest Fire Centre’s jurisdiction extends from just west of Endako to the North Coast and the Alaskan panhandle, and south from the Yukon border to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park.

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

For the latest information on current wildfire activity and burning restrictions, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

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