As of noon on Thursday April 13, Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre.
Category 3 fires must be extinguished by noon on April 13. This prohibition will remain in place until September 30, or until the public is otherwise notified.
Category 3 fires include any fire larger than two metres high by three metres wide; three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide; one or more burning windrows; and burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
The prohibitions are being implemented because Category 3 burning at this time of year presents an increased risk of "holdover" fires - fires that may smoulder undetected for a long time underground before flaring up as the temperature rises.
This prohibition does not include small campfires, cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes and Category 2 fires, which include one or two burning poles smaller than two metres high by three metres wide, or the burning of stubble or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares.
The prohibition applies to 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. The Fire Information Centre encourages checking with local government authorities for any other restrictions.
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, may be 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, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca.