No Open Fires This Weekend In Prince George Fire Centre

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 09:28 AM

Effective at noon on Friday, July 24th and until further notice, all open fire is prohibited throughout the Prince George Fire Centre.

Open fire is defined in three categories. A Category 1 open fire means ab open fire that burns piled material no larger than one metre high and one metre wide. This Category 1 open fire ban prohibits the use of campfires.

A Category 2 open fire means an open fire that burns piled material no larger than two metres high and three metres wide, or grass over an area less than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size.

A Category 3 open fire means an open fire that burns material in piles larger than two metres high and three metres wide, windrows, or grass over an larger than 0.2 hectares (2000 square metres) in size, this includes all resource management burns.

This open fire ban applies within BC Parks and to all public (Crown) and private land outside of organized areas. This fire ban does not apply within municipalities or regional districts that have their own burning bylaws. Please check with your local authorities before lighting a fire this summer.

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Posted on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 09:28 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 21 2009 11:44 AM

When exactly are we supposed to have campfires at campsites ?

November ?

It would be nice if the government got their "stuff" together and remedied the problem, instead of banning everything.

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 21 2009 11:45 AM

The present Kelowna fires are a direct result of the government's inaction since the last major fires in that area.

Posted by: Maverick on July 21 2009 12:04 PM

I really don't think these Kelowna fires are something you can pin on the government. Nice try though.

Nothing the government can do will prevent idiots being irresponsible in the forests.

Posted by: Maverick on July 21 2009 12:08 PM

I really don't think these Kelowna fires are something you can pin on the government. Nice try though.

Nothing the government can do will prevent idiots being irresponsible in the forests.

Posted by: NMG on July 21 2009 12:36 PM

"The present Kelowna fires are a direct result of the government's inaction since the last major fires in that area"

Nope. The Kelowna fires are most likely the direct result of people who think along the lines of "government shouldn't tell me when I can or can't have a campfire".

Posted by: Poppa on July 21 2009 2:01 PM

Maverick & NMG you have hit the nail on the head! Anybody who is not capable of following these directives during this time of very high fire probabilities definetly qualifies as an IDIOT!!!
Having been involved in extinguishing numerous fires caused by the above mentioned IDIOTS I feel that no matter what is said these people will be out there this weekend doing their thing and I and many others will be out trying to put out their attempts at rebellion and self governing!
We have a beautiful Province and our local area is as close to God's country as I can imagine, so go have a great weekend out there but please be careful. Like Smokey always says ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.

Posted by: He spoke on July 21 2009 2:17 PM

I think the reasonable man lost some reasoning. The fires in Kelowna was likely caused by a fire bug.

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 21 2009 2:56 PM

I am not referring to having campfires in tinder dry conditions. I am referring to areas that are still green enough to tolerate campfires. There are plenty of areas where a responsible person could safely have a small campfire. We are not even on the same map as Kelowna (dry, arrid, hot, desert).

Disclaimer: I do not in any way claim to be reasonable. Why should I be the only one ?

;-)

Posted by: He spoke on July 21 2009 3:11 PM

The best part of camping is the campfires. But there are a lot of ignorant people that do not know how to handle a campfire.

A native american builds a small fire, and stands close to keep warm. White man builds big fire and stays far away and gets too hot.

Serioursly, a fire only has to be about 18 inches in diameter, and maybe the flames not higher than 18 inches high. Uses less wood to keep it going and is comfortable to sit around it.

Always have a bucket of water to dose the fire if your going to leave it, This will not totally wipe out the fire, but it will dampen it enough that it will burn its self out shortly.

Seems simple to me, but then again, I expect too much from the common man, I guess I am too old.

Posted by: polar7018 on July 21 2009 5:40 PM

he spoke, right on, have the means on hand to put the fire out if need be, BEFORE you start the fire,not afterwards.

Posted by: thereasonableman on July 21 2009 6:12 PM

"The fires in Kelowna was likely caused by a fire bug."

Or at the very least, someone very irresponsible.

However, the opportunity for a fire to quickly evolve into an uncontrollable inferno is the result of poor forestry practices in populated areas. They knew there was excessive ground fuel stockpiled in areas around residential neighborhoods.

That was clear in a report that was issued after the last bout of wildfires.

Areas of forest in populated areas could be tended to by local companies to reduce the risk, as was done here in town.

Small scale salvage operators need the work too.

Posted by: diplomat on July 21 2009 8:28 PM

"They knew there was excessive ground fuel stockpiled in areas around residential neighborhoods."

This material has been piling up for decades and the area is estimated to be more than 1.2 million hectares. Cleanup costs range from a thousand dollars per hectare to as high as 20 thousand dollars per hectare in hard to access areas.

Multiply 1.2 million by let's say 4 thousand and there goes 5 billion or so.

And, pray tell, where is that kind of money going to come from?

So far quite a bit of work has been done already, but obviously it is a huge and very extensive task, with municipal, provincial and first nation priorities having to be negotiated and coordinated.

For now, caution is the word. Carelessness is not an excuse.