Williams Lake, B.C. – Category 2 and Category 3 fire bans are set to go into effect in both the Cariboo and Prince George Fire Centres starting noon Thursday.

Prohibited activities include:

– the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
– stubble or grass fires of any size over any area
– the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
– the use of sky lanterns, tiki torches, or burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description
– the use of binary exploding targets
– the use of air curtain burners (forced-air burning systems)

The bans will remain in place until September 30 or until the public is otherwise notified.

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

The bans are due to drier-than-normal conditions, elevated fire danger ratings and the long range forecast.

Penalties for not observing fire bans may include a ticket for $345, an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, a fine up to $100,000 and/or one year in jail.

If refusal to comply causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.