Effective at noon (Pacific Time) on Thursday, June 15, 2017, Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

Anyone conducting a Category 3 open fire anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre must extinguish any such fire by noon on June 15, 2017. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

A map of the affected area is available online at: http://ow.ly/Q7S430ct2C0

Specifically, prohibited activities include:

• the burning of any material (piled or un-piled) larger than two metres high or three metres wide
• stubble or grass fires over an area larger than 2,000 square metres
• the burning of more than two piles of any size

This prohibition does not apply to: campfires that are smaller than a half-metre wide by a half-metre wide; cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes; or open fires that are two metres by three metres or smaller. A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at: http://ow.ly/znny309kJv5

Please ensure that any allowable fire (a Category 2 fire or campfire) is not lit or kept burning during windy conditions and that sufficient tools, water and people are on hand to contain the fire. Make sure that the fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but 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. Please check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions or bylaws are in effect.

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 Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or 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