THE CITY of Terrace has followed the lead of the Northwest Fire Centre and issued a ban on open fire burning, which includes campfires, within city limits because of an extreme danger rating. The restrictions mirror those of the ban issued yesterday by the Northwest Fire Centre found below. Specifics of Terrace's fire prevention bylaw, which includes fines, can be found on the city's website here.
The Northwest Fire Centre issued an open burning prohibition, which includes campfires, in the Nadina, Builkley and Skeena Fire zones to help prevent human-caused wildfires as of 4 p.m. this afternoon, August 6.
That includes Terrace, Stewart, Kitwanga, Kitimat, Smithers and Houston.
The only exception is the former North Coast Forest District within the Northwest Fire Centre's jurisdiction, which is the area around Prince Rupert and north around Dease Lake, Cassiar and Atlin.
This prohibition applies to campfires and open burning of any size or description, including fires with a burn registration number and industrial burning.
Note that the prohibition on Category 2 and Category 3 open fires is still in effect in all zones within the Northwest Fire Centre area.
This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. It also does not apply to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame length of 15 cm or less. The use of a portable campfire apparatus that does not meet these conditions is prohibited.
This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department.
The City of Terrae put a fire ban for open fires in place AUgust 2 but so far has not added any more to it.
Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.
The Northwest Fire Centre responded to over 15 new fires in the past week, nearly all the result of lightning which tracked through the area. Fire danger is rated "high" to "extreme" across much of the fire centre, and more lightning-caused fires are anticipated in the coming days. These lightning-caused fires are a sobering reminder of fire hazard in the region and the heightened need for diligence with the use of fire.
As our crews and personnel face increasing fire activity from naturally caused wildfires, it is imperative that preventable, human-caused fires do not add to that workload.
Anyone found in contravention of an open-fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
This prohibition is in addition to previous restrictions on Category 2 and 3 open fires, which are in place throughout the Northwest Fire Centre.
A map of the prohibition area is available here: http://bit.ly/188FPCR
This prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 15, 2013, or until the public is otherwise notified.
To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.