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INFORMATION BULLETIN
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2010FOR0114-000880 |
Ministry of Forests
and Range
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CAMPFIRES PROHIBITED IN PARTS OF PRINCE GEORGE AREA
PRINCE GEORGE – Effective at noon Thursday, July 29, all open burning, including campfires and fireworks, will be prohibited in parts of the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
This prohibition is necessary due to dry forest fuels and a forecast for a prolonged period without substantial rain. The public is urged to exercise caution on forested land with any activity that could lead to a wildfire. Please discard cigarettes carefully and limit movement of ATVs and motorcycles through tall grass and undergrowth.
This ban applies to open fires of any size, including campfires, fires with a burn registration number and industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches and burning barrels.
The ban does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating using briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the flame is kept under 15 centimetres in length.
The ban affects the area covered by the Mackenzie, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James, McBride and Valemount forest districts. Details are available at http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp
Within this area, the ban covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.
Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban, including campfires, may be issued a ticket for $345. Should a wildfire occur as a result of recklessness, a person can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The ban will be in place until the public is otherwise notified.
The Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction stretches from the Yukon and Northwest Territories to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, the Cottonwood River and Robson Valley in the south, and from the Alberta border west to the Skeena Mountains.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire please call *5555 on your cell or toll-free 1 800 663-5555.
For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website at www.bcwildfire.ca.
For Facebook and Twitter updates, as well as details about evacuation orders and alerts, road conditions and air quality advisories, go to www.firesafebc.ca
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Contact:
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Joyce Poulin Prince George Fire Centre 250 565-6990 (office) 250 961-4176 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
