The Cariboo Fire Centre warns the region is drying out and fire danger ratings are extreme for the Alexis Creek and Tatla Lake areas.
“We are reminding people to be careful when they are using a fire or are outdoors because if we were to start getting naturally-occurring lightning fires, we would like to not be responding to human-caused fires,” said CFC information officer Natasha Broznitsky Monday.
Presently, however, the only wildfire of note is the 168 hectare lightning-caused fire located five kilometres south of Pantage Lake, which is now under control.
As of Monday, June 12, the fire was 100 per cent contained, Broznitsky said.
“We have 35 firefighters on site, patrolling the fire looking for any hot spots.
Broznitsky also confirmed a two-hectare wildfifire at Tl’etinqox (Anaham) First Nation on Monday, June 5 was human-caused.
“We sent crews, as well as airtankers initially,” she said.
“It was never threatening any buildings, but it did burn through a vehicle.”
Burning restricted through Cariboo Fire Centre
Effective at noon on Monday, June 19, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
This prohibition is being implemented due to current weather conditions and the long-range weather forecast for the region. Anyone conducting a Category 2 open burn anywhere in the Cariboo Fire Centre must extinguish any such fire by noon on that day.
The Cariboo Fire Centre stretches from Loon Lake (near Clinton) in the south to the Cottonwood River (near Quesnel) in the north and from Tweedsmuir Provincial Park in the west to Wells Gray Provincial Park in the east.
Larger Category 3 open fires have been prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre since April 13, 2017.
Both Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will remain prohibited until Sept. 30, 2017 or until the public is otherwise notified.
Specifically, prohibited activities will include:
* the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
* stubble or grass fires of any size over any area
* the use of burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
* the use of sky lanterns and fireworks
* the use of exploding binary targets (e.g. for target practice)
These prohibitions do not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and do not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
These prohibitions apply to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.