Effective at 1 p.m. Mountain Time on Thursday, October 16, Category 3 open fires will once again be permitted throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

Due to decreased wildfire risk, the following activities will once again be permitted throughout the Southeast Fire Centre:

• 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 m in height or three m in width.
• One or more windrows, none of which exceed 200m in length or 15m in width.
• Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.
• Air curtain burners.
• Carbonizers.

Check with your local government or other jurisdictional authorities before lighting a fire of any size and abide by any bylaws or restrictions that are in place in your area.

You can find more information on prohibitions and restrictions within the Southeast Fire Centre here.

Anyone planning to conduct a Category 3 open burn must obtain a burn registration number ahead of time (at no charge) by calling 1-888-797-1717. Burn registration numbers are entered in the Open Fire Tracking System, which allows the BC Wildfire Service to track open burning activity throughout B.C.

All open burning must comply with the Wildfire Act, Environmental Management Act and Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. Anyone conducting an open burn must check local venting conditions prior to lighting a fire, understand what smoke sensitivity zone the burn site is in, and meet all other obligations associated with these regulations.

Venting index and smoke sensitivity zone information is available by calling 1-888-281-2992 or visiting: the text ventilation index or the venting index interactive map

Learn more about regulations that apply to Category 3 open fires here or with the Category 3 open fire poster here.

Offences and fines

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire 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 for up to one year in jail.

If your fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, you may be fined up to $1 million and/or sentenced to up to three years in jail, as well as be responsible for all firefighting and associated costs. More information about the Wildfire Act and Regulationis available online.

The Southeast Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire, or open burning violation, dial *5555 on a cell phone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. You can also report a wildfire using the BC Wildfire App Report a fire function. Reporting through the app lets you upload images and can be used without service.

e-KNOW file photo

Southeast Fire Centre

Article Share