BC Wildfire Service says category 2 and 3 fires will be banned in the Cariboo region

BC’s first open burning ban will go into effect on Wednesday.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said category two and three open fires will be prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre.

That fire centre stretches from just north of Cache Creek north towards Quesnel and from the edges of the Wells Gray Provincial Park west towards Anahaim Lake.

According to the BCWS, the fire ban goes into effect at noon on May 7 and will remain in place until Oct. 31 or until the orders are rescinded.

“Multiple factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and deciding whether to implement open fire prohibitions, including drought conditions, current and forecasted weather, predicted wildfire behaviour and firefighting resource availability,” the BCWS explained.

“The Cariboo region continues to experience significant drought conditions. We urge members of the public and industry to be extra vigilant when monitoring and in ensuring extinguishment of open burns.”

Category two and three fires include burning material in large piles that are two meters in height and three metres in width. More detailed information can be found here.

Binary exploding targets, fireworks, burn barrels or burn cages, controlled air incinerators, air curtain burners and carbonizers will also be banned, the BCWS said.

This year’s ban on those types of fires is going into effect two days earlier than 2024.

Anyone who is found violating an open burning ban could be fined up to $1,150.

^{Thumbnail Photo Credit: BCWS}