The BC Wildfire Service has issued its first fire ban of the year in the Cariboo Region due to an unseasonably dry fall and winter.
Effective at noon on March 28, category 2 and 3 open fires will be prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre, which includes the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District, 100 Mile House Forest District and Quesnel Forest District.
“The Cariboo region has experienced an unseasonable dry fall and winter, resulting in high drought conditions,” said the service in a press release.
The use of fireworks and sky lanterns is prohibited. Cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes are not prohibited.
A Category 2 fire is 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 less than 0.2 hectares.
A Category 3 fire is an open fire larger than two metres by three metres, burning three or more piles smaller than two metres by three metres, or burning an area of grass or stubble over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
Those who break the fire ban rules could be issued a ticket up to $1,150 plus an administrative penalty of up to $10,000. Punishments could be upgraded if a person is convicted in court with fines going up to $100,000 or up to one year in jail.
At noon on Thursday, March 28, 2024, Category 2 and 3 open fires will be prohibited across the entire Cariboo Fire Centre region. This prohibition includes the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District, the 100 Mile House Forest District and the Quesnel Forest District.
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) March 14, 2024
Oli Herrera
