Williams Lake, B.C. – It may be winter, but that hasn’t stopped the Cariboo Fire Centre from asking the public to be careful with outdoor burning.

“Throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre we are seeing that things are drying out earlier than usual,” says fire information officer Emily Epp. “The grass and small shrub layer is drying out quite quickly, especially at lower elevations and in the valley bottoms.”

Not surprisingly, she attributes their concern to warmer than average temperatures, the lack of precipitation, and the wind which she says can lead to trouble in no time.

“In these types of situations, fires can spread very quickly.”

In light of the current conditions, Epp says restrictions on backyard and industrial burning may come into effect earlier this year.

In the meantime, she says residents should take the following precautions:

– Ensure that enough people, water and tools are on hand to control the fire and prevent it from escaping.

– Do not burn during windy conditions. Weather conditions can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires.

– Create a fireguard at least one metre around the planned fire site by clearing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material.

– If you are planning a large burn, consider conducting smaller burns around the perimeter beforehand to create a fuel break and help stop the fire from spreading.

– Never leave a fire unattended.

– Make sure that your fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before you leave the area for any length of time.

Epp says the Cariboo Fire Centre put out similar messaging at about the same last year but notes it’s not necessarily an indication of the fire season ahead.

“When we look at the fire season coming up in the summer, that’s more reflective of the amount of rain that we get in June as well as the drying trends over the summer and the lightning.”