Exercise caution with your Open Fire!

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service:

The Cariboo Fire Centre would like to remind the public to exercise caution when conducting any open burning activity. Although the fire centre has been experiencing cooler temperatures and increased precipitation levels, the risk of holdover fires remains.  

 

It is the responsibility of the individual who has ignited any fire to ensure the fire is completely extinguished at the time a prohibition becomes effective. A category 3 open fire must be extinguished prior to the expiration of the burn registration number.  

 

Piles which have been ignited after land clearing or road building may require additional attention to ensure the fire is completely extinguished. Hot spots in such piles may be more difficult to identify, and likely to continue smoldering if not fully extinguished.  

 

 

Any person lighting any fire must comply with open burning regulations, which may include but are not limited to: 

* ready access to water  

       * at least one person equipped with a fire-fighting hand tool 

* an established fire guard or fuel break  

 

Category 3 open fires are currently prohibited throughout the 100 Mile House Forest District and to the west side of the high-water mark of the Fraser River within the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District and the Tsilhqot’in (Xeni Gwet-in) Declared Title Area. A map of the area affected by this Category 3 open burning prohibition is available online: http://ow.ly/KPaa30rJekc  

 

 

 Specifically, prohibited activities that would constitute a Category 3 open fire include: 

* any fires larger than two meters high by three meters wide; 

* three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two meters high by three meters wide; 

* burning of one or more windrows; and 

* burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.  

 

A poster explaining the different categories of open burning and regulations is available online: 

http://ow.ly/znny309kJv5 

 

 Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused fires. Always practice safe, responsible fire use where permitted. 

* To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.  

* Check with your local government or other jurisdictional authorities before lighting a fire of any size since they may have their own restrictions in place. 

* Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $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. 

 

 

 Learn More: 

People can follow the latest wildfire news: 

·         on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices 

·         on Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo  

·         on Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo