As of noon today (Tuesday), Category 1 (campfires) will once again be permitted in the Peace Forest Districts, including the Dawson Creek and Fort St. John Zones.
However, the ban remains in effect for the Fort Nelson Forest District.
Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibitions remain in place for the Prince George Forest District, Stuart Nechako Forest District, Mackenzie Forest District, Peace Forest District, and Fort Nelson Forest District.
Although fire danger ratings have dropped due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures, the public is reminded to still exercise caution.
The wildfire services states to avoid having a campfire when it’s windy, choose a proper fire pit or make a ring of rocks at least three metres from trees, shrubs, structures and debris, and do not leave a campfire unattended for any amount of time.
Multiple factors are taken into consideration prior to restricting open fire use, including:
- Current and forecasted weather conditions
- The availability of firefighting resources
- The Buildup Index (BUI)
A Category 1 fire, or campfire, is defined as an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide. The following precautions must be in place when lighting or making use of a campfire:
- There is ready access to a shovel or at least eight litres of water the entirety of the time the campfire is lit,
- There is a fuel break around the campfire, free of any debris or combustible materials, and
- The fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the campfire for any length of time.
Category 2 and Category 3 open burning remains prohibited, as well as the use of the following:
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- Fireworks and Sky Lanterns
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Binary exploding targets
