Fire ban enacted amid rising risk

The Prince George Fire Centre has enacted a fire prohibition which began on May 16 throughout the Peace region.

A prohibition for category two and category three open fires is being implemented by the BC Fire Service, and will remain in effect until October 15, or until the order is officially rescinded.

This will apply to all areas inside the Peace Forests Districts which find themselves outside of municipal boundaries.

Additional activities and equipment are also prohibited such as fireworks, burn barrels or burn cages of any size, sky lanterns and binary exploding targets.

Category 1 fires (campfires) are excluded from the prohibition, as well as cooking stoves that utilize gas, propane or briquettes.

Multiple factors have contributed to the decision to implement the prohibition including persistent drought conditions, high grass fire hazard, and an increased incidence of human-caused wildfires associated with Category 2 and Category 3 open burning.

Anyone who violates the prohibition can face fines up to $1,150, administrative penalties up to $10,000, or court convictions with fines up to $100,000 and/or one year in jail according to the media release.

In the case that a wildfire is caused by a prohibited fire, the person responsible for the blaze can be held accountable for all the firefighting costs and damages to Crown resources.