Increased fire danger ratings in the centres leads to campfire bans   250News photo

Prince George, BC –  A campfire ban is now in effect for the Northwest Fire Centre and the Cariboo Fire Centre has extended its campfire ban to include the northwestern portion of that region.

The ban applies to open fires of any size, campfires, industrial or backyard burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels.

Northwest Fire Centre Information Officer, Suzanne Pearce, says the fire danger rating is high to extreme across much of the centre and more lightning-caused fires are anticipated in the coming days.  "As our crews and personnel face increasing fire activity from naturally-caused wildfires," says Pearce, "It is imperative that preventable, human-caused fires do not add to that workload."

The following areas are exempted from the ban in the northwest (click here to see a map of prohibition area):

• Furlong Bay Campground, Lakelse Lake in designated fire rings or pits,
• Tyhee Lake Provincial Campground, Tyhee Lake in designated fire rings or pits,
• Kleanza Creek Provincial Campground in designated fire rings or pits,
• Beaver Point Resort, Tchesinkut Lake in designated fire rings or pits,
• Kin Kiddies Kamp, Lakelse Lake

For the Cariboo Fire Centre, the extended ban includes all areas west of Highway 97 – from the Cottonwood River north of Quesnet, to 150 Mile House.  The covers the Kluskus, Nazko, Chilcotin, McLeese Lake and Williams Lake regions, as well as the Chilcotin, 100 Mile House and Interlakes regions.

Fire Information Officer, Greig Bethel, says this step is being taken to help prevent person-caused wildfires and protect the public.  The current fire danger rating is high throughout the centre, with large areas of extreme west of Highway 97.

"With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have the potential to display aggressive behaviour and require additional fire suppression resources," says Bethel.  "Person-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occuring wildfires."

A map of the prohibition area for the Cariboo Fire Centre is available by clicking here.