Cariboo residents urged to be cautious with fire amid warm, dry conditions

The BCWS said they have responded to 14 human-caused wildfires in the past seven days. Officials said this diverts critical resources away from preparedness and response to naturally occurring wildfires.

“Spring fires are typically human-caused and therefore preventable. It just serves as a good reminder for the public to practice caution going into the weekend,” said Eliza Balkwill, BCWS Fire Information Officer.

Category 2 and Category 3 burning prohibitions remain in effect for the entire Cariboo Fire Centre, including the Tsilhqot’in (Xeni Gwet’in) Declared Title Area.

Category 1 fires are currently allowed, but the BCWS says it is the public’s responsibility to be safe with their fires.

This means only lighting a campfire when conditions are safe and expected to remain so.

The BCWS said there are a few things to keep in mind when you light a campfire:

Keep it less than 0.5 metres wide by 0.5 metres high.
Have a fuel break around the fire, removing all combustible material.
Do not light a campfire in windy or unsafe conditions.
Ensure the fire is fully extinguished and cool to the touch before leaving it unattended

“We encourage the public to continue to report any smoke that they observe through the mobile app. Directly from the app you can add photos that will be georeferenced and make it so we can see exactly what you are seeing on the ground,” said the BCWS.

“This provides a better picture for our staff that are deploying resources.”

Anyone found breaking an open fire prohibition can be ticketed up to $1,150, given an administrative penalty of $10,000, or fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced for up to one year in jail if convicted in court.

Illegal fires that beak out into a wildfire can lead to fines of up to $1 million, and/or up to three years in jail, plus covering all firefighting and associated costs.

You can find more details on fire safety and current burning bans here.

by Elora McCormack

Cariboo residents urged to be cautious with fire amid warm, dry conditions

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