Effective at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, campfires were again allowed in the Fort Nelson Forest District and Peace Forest District.

However, campfires are still prohibited in the Mackenzie Forest District, the Fort St. James Forest District, the Vanderhoof Forest District and the Prince George Forest District (including the Robson Valley).

The combination of a return to more seasonal weather conditions, with rainfall and cooler temperatures and decreased fire danger ratings, have reduced the risk of wildfires in northeastern B.C.

The current prohibition against any open fire larger than a campfire (i.e., larger than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high) remains in effect throughout the Prince George Fire Centre. A map of the affected areas and their associated prohibitions is available online: http://ow.ly/LfCJ30lyV1w

The following activities remain prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre:

• Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
• the use of sky lanterns
• the use of air curtain burners
• the use of burn barrels and burn cages
• the use of binary exploding targets

Anyone lighting a campfire in an area where campfires are allowed must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from around the campfire area, and must have a hand tool or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish the campfire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, 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.

The Prince George Fire Centre extends from Yukon and the Northwest Territories in the north to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the Cottonwood River and Robson Valley in the south, and from the Alberta border in the east to the Skeena Mountains in the west.

To report a wildfire 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: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Learn More:

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online: http://ow.ly/znny309kJv5

For more information about fire-related fines and penalties, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/wildfirefines