Williams Lake, B.C.- With warm and windy conditions predicted for the upcoming weekend throughout the Cariboo, the Cariboo Fire Centre is  urging the public to be very careful when conducting open burns and ensure that any previously burned piles have been properly extinguished.

 

There is currently an open fire prohibition in place in the Cariboo Fire Centre, but  it still allows for small-scale pile burning of no more than two piles, one metre by one metre in size. Anyone planning to conduct burning should follow these safe burning tips:

 

·         Ensure fires are not lit or kept burning during windy conditions.

·         Have adequate tools, water and people on hand to contain a fire.

·         Ensure the fire is fully extinguished before leaving the area.

 

One of the contributors to wildfires in the Cariboo each spring is holdover fires — fires that smoulder underground and reignite when the weather gets warmer.

 

The Cariboo Fire Centre is asking the public at this time to check any piles that were previously burned to ensure they are completely extinguished.