Southeast Fire Centre bans Category 3 open fires beginning Friday at noon
By Nelson Daily Staff
Get ready for fire season in the Southeast Fire Centre.
The Southeast Fire Centre said effective at noon PDT on Friday, June 3, Category 3 open fires will be prohibited in the district to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
Human-caused wildfires continue to be the biggest concern of BC Wildfire Service.
The B.C. government said the province has already spent half its wildfire fighting budget and summer is not even here yet.
The ban said anyone conducting a Category 3 open fire anywhere in the Southeast Fire Centre must extinguish any such fire by noon on June 3, 2016. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.
A map of the affected area is available online at: http://bit.ly/20RD4QZ
Specifically, this order prohibits:
- the burning of any material (piled or un-piled) larger than two metres high or three metres wide
- stubble or grass fires over an area larger than 2,000 square metres
- the burning of more than two piles of any size
The Southeast Fire Centre said at this time this prohibition does not apply to campfires, cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or open fires that are two metres by three metres or smaller.
“Please ensure that fires are not lit or kept burning during windy conditions and that adequate tools, water and people are on hand to contain the fire. Ensure the fire is fully extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time,” the media release said.
“This prohibition covers all BC Parks and 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.”
The Southeast Fire Centre covers the area extending from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C. – Alberta border in the east. It includes the Selkirk Natural Resource District and the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: http://www.bcwildfire.ca
