The Cariboo Fire Centre will implement a Category 2 and 3 fire ban starting on March 28, 2024.
This ban will go into effect at noon on March 28 meaning that all fires must be extinguished by then. The Cariboo Fire Centre includes the 100 Mile House Forest District, the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District and the Quesnel Forest District. This ban will last until Nov. 1, 2024 or until the fire centre decides to end it.
Madison Dahl, an information officer working for the Cariboo Fire Centre, said multiple factors are considered when implementing fire bans. These include forecasted weather, the availability of firefighters and drought conditions.
“Traditionally fire bans have been a little later in the year. This year it’s a little earlier but I think we’ve all noticed the Cariboo region has experienced an incredibly dry fall and winter. We’re in some very high drought conditions,” Dahl said. “We decided to implement those Category 2 and 3 bans now because it’s the best interests of the safety of the public.”
Dahl explained they’re giving property owners and local industry two weeks of notice about the burn so they have time to burn any slash piles and ensure they’re extinguished by the end of the month.
A Category 2 fire is defined as an open fire that burns material in one or two piles, each no larger than two metres in height and three metres in width, or burning grass over an area of less than 0.2 hectares.
Meanwhile, a Category 3 fire is defined as an open fire larger than two metres by three, burning three or more piles larger than two by three metres, or burning an area of grass larger than 0.2 hectares.
“If you do have those piles on your property and you’re looking to do some burning, you have a two week window (as of March. 14),” Dahl said. “Hopefully we’re able to get a lot of that wildfire season preparedness burning done before that.”
This ban also prohibits the use of fireworks and sky lanterns over the next few months. Campfires a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller are not affected by this ban.
Those found violating the ban could be issued a ticket for $1,150, an administrative penalty of up to $10,000, or if convicted in court be fined up to $100,000 or spend one year in jail. If an illegal burn causes or contributes to a wildfire, the individual who started it may be ordered to pay for all firefighting and associated costs.
Dahl said that the fire centre has already begun recalling seasonal firefighters for training for this season. So far she said they have already had 50 per cent, or 60 firefighters, return which she finds really encouraging.
“We’re going to be preparing the same way we always do. We have crews who have returned and everyone who is here in the middle of a bunch of training for the season. We are ready and prepared for any wildfires that might occur,” Dahl said. “We have crew members in every one of our zones back.”
The Cariboo Fire Centre encourages the public to report any burning violation or wildfire to them at 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For up-to-date wildfire information including wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality bulletins the public can visit www.bcwildfire.ca or call 1-888 3-FOREST.
READ MORE: Williams Lake Fire Department douses grass fire March 9
READ MORE: B.C. appeals office says man owes $450,000 for 2019 wildfire near Quesnel
