Effective at noon tomorrow (Tuesday), category 2 and 3 open burning will be prohibited in the Prince George and Stuart Nechako Forest Districts.
According to the Prince George Fire Centre, this doesn’t include areas within municipal boundaries.
A category 2 open fire refers to any fire that burns:
- One pile of material not exceeding two metres high and three metres wide,
- Two piles of material, each not exceeding two metres high and three metres wide
- Stubble or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)
A category 3 open fire refers to any fire that burns:
- Three or more piles of material, each not exceeding two metres high and three metres wide,
- Any pile of material larger than two metres high or three metres wide,
- Windrows not exceeding 200 metres in length and 15 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares
In addition, the following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances are also prohibited:
- Binary exploding targets,
- Fire works, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC,
- Burn barrels or burn cages,
- Controlled air incinerators,
- Air curtain burners,
- Carbonizers
The prohibition will remain in effect until noon on October 15, 2026, or until otherwise rescinded.
The prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or the use of cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
Individuals who violate the open fire prohibition could face fines of up to $1,150, administrative penalties of up to $10,000, or court convictions with fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in jail.
More information on prohibitions and restrictions within the Prince George Fire Centre can be found here.
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