Prince George Fire Centre puts a muzzle on open burning

All fires including campfires within the Prince George Fire Centre are now prohibited.

Fire Information Officer Amanda Reynolds says two main factors contributed to the ban.

“This to help prevent human-caused wildfires and to protect public safety. This probation is being implemented due to the current weather conditions and the volume of fires the BC Wildfire Service is responding to.”

The following activities are prohibited:

• Category 2 open fires
• campfires
• Category 3 open fires
• the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
• stubble or grass fires of any size over any area
• the use of stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are not CSA-approved or ULC-approved
• fires burning woody debris in outdoor stoves
• the use of tiki torches, fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice)

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online: www.gov.bc.ca/openfireregs

On Monday, the McBride Timber Road South evacuation alert was rescinded.

Anyone caught not following the ban may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or up to $100,000 and possibly one year in jail if convicted in court.