The Cariboo Fire Centre (CFC) is rescinding its ban on Category 3 open fires.
In a release sent out on Oct. 3, the Cariboo Fire Centre said the fire prohibition will be rescinded for the entire Cariboo Fire Centre area, including the Tsilhqot'in (Xeni Gwet'in) Declared Title Area - at 12 p.m. on Friday, Oct 4.
A Category 3 open fire, according to the release, is "material concurrently in three or more piles, each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width, material in one or more piles each exceeding two metres in height or three metres in width, one or more windrows each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width, or stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares."
The Cariboo Fire Centre is reminding people that those lighting a Category 3 fire must obtain a burn registration number prior to burning - which the release says are available by calling 1-888-797-1717 or emailing hpr.1800@gov.bc.ca. The release further states anyone who lights a Category 3 open fire must also comply with B.C.'s Open Burning Smoke Control Regulations and check the local venting index by calling 1-888-281-2992. The Cariboo Fire Centre finally states people should check with their local government authority prior to lighting a fire of any size as they might have restrictions in place.
The ban that has been in place since the end of March for Category 2 open fires was also rescinded last month on Sept. 27.
Anyone found in contravention of the open-burning prohibition can be ticketed for up to $1,150, may be required to pay up to $10,000 in an administrative penalty, or fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail if convicted in court - according to the release, noting if the contravention ends up contributing 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 violations, the public should call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
