Effective at noon on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015, Category 2 open fires will once again be allowed throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction due to a decreased wildfire risk in the region. Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

Category 2 fires are fires that burn material in piles smaller than two metres high and three metres wide, or stubble or grass over an area smaller than 2,000 square metres.

Anyone who wishes to light a fire should take the following precautions:

• Ensure that enough people, water and tools are on hand to control the fire and to prevent it from escaping.
• Do not burn in windy conditions. The weather 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.

A map of the area is available at: http://bit.ly/1Kr4UwJ

Anyone who lights, fuels or makes use of a Category 2 open fire must comply with the Environmental Management Act and Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. The act requires individuals to check local venting conditions prior to ignition. Local venting conditions can be found by visiting www.bcairquality.ca or calling 1 888 281-2992. A burn registration number is not required for a Category 2 open fire.

An infographic on the difference between the categories of open fires is available here: http://bit.ly/1GlhE9l

The rescinding of the Category 2 open fire prohibition in the Cariboo Fire Centre applies to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments. Please check with civic authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

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.

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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