INFORMATION BULLETIN

2010FOR0139-000988 Aug. 25, 2010

Ministry of Forests and Range Prince George Fire Centre

 

CAMPFIRES PERMITTED ACROSS PRINCE GEORGE FIRE CENTRE

 

PRINCE GEORGE – Effective immediately, campfires will be permitted within the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

 

Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres wide or 0.5 metres tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool such as a shovel, or at least eight litres of water, nearby to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area.

 

Although small, contained campfires are now permitted, open fires of any other description remain prohibited. This prohibition includes fireworks and burning barrels. Details are available at http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp.

 

The rescinding of the campfire prohibition applies to 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 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 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 to 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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Media Contact:

Joyce Poulin Prince George Fire Centre 250 565-6990 250 961-4176 (cell)

 

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.