Ban coming for larger open fires in the northwest

Larger open fires will banned in the northwest as of noon July 15.

Known as Category 2 fires, they were first banned in April and permitted again the beginning of July based on fire hazard conditions.

A Category 2 open fire is a fire that:

– Burns material in one pile not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width,
– Burns material concurrently in two piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width, or
– Burns stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha.

The ban does not apply to campfires that are half-metre high by half-metre wide or smaller, or the use of cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

Fires that are larger than Category 2 ones and called Category 3 fires, remain banned in the Nadina Forest District, the Coast Mountain Forest District and the Skeena Stikine Forest District.

The bans will remain in place until noon September 25 unless changed.

In addition to Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, the following activities and use of equipment, materials and substances will also be prohibited:

– Binary exploding targets
– Fireworks, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
– Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
– Controlled air incinerators
– Air curtain burners
– Carbonizers