Prince George, B.C. – The B.C. Wildfire Management Branch is putting measures into effect to protect the Cariboo from a possible threat of fire.

Starting noon Monday Category 3 open burning will be prohibited throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused fires.  The order prohibits fires that burn material in three or more piles, each under two metres high and three metres wide; one or more windrows; or stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares (more than 2,000 square metres).The prohibition will remain in place until Sept. 30^th or until otherwise lifted.

This prohibition does not apply to campfires, cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or open fires that are two metres by three metres or smaller.  It does apply to all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands in the Cariboo but not within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws in place and are serviced by fire departments.

So far this season, the Wildfire Management Branch’s Cariboo Fire Centre has responded to 16 wildfire incidents, all of which were human-caused.