No Grass Burning in City Limits

Friday, April 24, 2009 03:51 AM

Prince George, B.C.- While there are some who want to dive into spring yard clean up in Prince George, the Prince George Fire Department reminds you that burning your grass, whether it be in piles, in a bin, or still part of the lawn, is NOT allowed. The only kind of burning allowed in Prince George is recreational (wiener roast) and even that isn't allowed when there is an air quality advisory in effect.

Outside the City and Regional District limits, the Prince George Fire Centre ( which covers forest fires ) is calling on residents to be extra careful if they are involved in any spring grass burning activities.

The Fire centre says despite cool temperatures, conditions in many areas are quite dry. Before starting, people must ensure conditions are appropriate and that they’re aware of their responsibilities. For example, residents are required to create a fuel-free zone or fuel break around a burn area to prevent grass fires from escaping. Other standards include:

Ensuring the fire site is away from buildings, trees and combustible materials;
Being aware of windy conditions that can spread sparks;
Ensuring people, water and hand tools are readily available to prevent a fire from escaping;
Never leaving a fire unattended until it is completely out; and
Checking with local government agencies for current burning bylaws.

A burn registration number is required for all burns exceeding 0.2 hectares (more than 2,000 square metres) and can be attained free of charge by calling 1-888-797-1717. For further details on safe backyard burning, go to http://bcwildfire.ca/Restrictions/BackyardBurning.pdf.

Escaped grass fires are the most common form of unnecessary, human-caused fires at this time of year. To date this season, the Province has responded to 87 person-caused fires, which have burned more than 435 hectares of forests and grass land. These fires can be easily prevented if proper burning precautions are followed.

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