Effective at noon on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, campfires will once again be allowed throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. However, the burning of waste or slash piles is still prohibited.

The Cariboo Fire Centre is rescinding its campfire prohibition due to cooler and wetter conditions and a decreased wildfire risk in the region. The following activities will be allowed:

• campfires no larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre high
• an open fire in an outdoor stove
• fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches
• the use of burning barrels, burning cages and air curtain burners (forced air burning systems)

Anyone who lights a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire site and have a hand tool (such as a shovel) or at least eight litres of water available to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure that the ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

The public is also reminded to never light or keep a campfire burning in windy conditions. Regardless of the situation or conditions, always use caution when using fire.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires continue to be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre's jurisdictional area. The following activities are prohibited:

• the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
• stubble or grass fires of any size over any area

An infographic showing the differences between campfires, Category 2 fires and Category 3 fires is available online at: http://bit.ly/1GlhE9l

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 the affected areas, please visit: http://bit.ly/1MeoT5k

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 governments for any other restrictions 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.

To report a wildfire, abandoned campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity and open burning restrictions, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1 888 3-FOREST.

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