Williams Lake, B.C. – The 2013 Wildfire Season is just over a week old, and already, an open fire burning ban has been declared for the entire Cariboo Fire Centre. 

Effective at noon on Monday, April 15, open burning will be prohibited across the entire Cariboo Fire Centre to help prevent person-caused wildfires and to protect the public. 

Cariboo Fire Centre crews have already responded to six wildfire incidents since the new fire season started on April 1^st. All of those fires were preventable as all were caused by people. 

This prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 30, 2013 or until the public is informed otherwise.

Specifically, this open fire prohibition applies to:

·       the burning of any waste, slash or other material

·       the burning of stubble or grass

This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. 

This prohibition applies to all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. 

Before lighting any fire, residents should check with their local authorities regarding any current prohibitions.