FORT ST. JOHN -- A campfire ban will go into effect across the Prince George Fire Centre later this week.

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) announcing today that the Category 1 Open Fire Ban will come into effect starting at 12:00 p.m. Friday, July 12, 2024.

The ban will remain in place until noon on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 or until rescinded, according to the BCWS.

The Prince George Fire Centre covers the Peace Region, including Dawson Creek and Fort St. John, north of the Interior Plateau and the Omenica Mountains north, sections of the Rocky Mountain Trench and Peace Liard country to the east and a portion of the Cariboo range to the south.

Anyone found to be violation of the ban and its guidelines may be subject to tough penalties.

According o the BC Wildfire Service, a violation ticket of $1,150 and administrative penalties of up to $10,000 could be issued.

In cases where a violation is taken the court, convicted persons could be subject to the cost for firefighting, face up to one year in jail, and ordered to pay a fine of up to $100,000.

In addition to campfires, other activities that will be prohibited include:

  • Fireworks
  • Sky lanterns
  •  Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
  • Binary exploding targets
  • Air curtain burners
  • Chimineas
  • Tiki and similar kinds of torches
  • Outdoor stoves or other portable campfire apparatus without a CSA or ULC rating

Outdoor stoves used for cooking, heat or ambiance less than 15 centimetres tall are not included in the prohibition.

The BC Wildfire Service says they’ve taken a number of factors into consideration when deciding to implement the ban including weather conditions, firefighting resources, and the Buildup Index (BUI).

The BUI is a scientific measure of the total amount of fuel available for combustion in a given area, factoring in moisture content that can lead to increased fire intensity.

More information on current fire bans and restrictions can be found on the province's website.