Temporary Lift of Burning Ban

Please see the following link regarding The temporary lift of the burning ban as of June 18th at noon. Remember to look at the venting index before burning and to follow all the rules. Also Category 3 fires need a burning registration number.

Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development BC Wildfire Service

INFORMATION BULLETIN
Open Burning Temporarily Allowed in Southeast Fire Centre

CASTLEGAR – Effective at noon Pacific Time on Thursday, June 18, 2020, the following amendments have been made to both Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions within the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Given consideration to weather patterns and time of year, the BCWS has identified a brief window to temporarily allow category 2 open burning throughout the entire Southeast Fire Centre and category 3 open burning to be allowed in specified areas.

Category 2 open burning:
Category 2 open burning will be temporarily allowed throughout the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. Category 2 open burns include:

one or two concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide;
stubble or grass burning over an area of less than 0.2 hectares in size;
the use of fireworks;
burn barrels and burn cages;
sky lanterns; and
exploding binary targets;

Reminders About Category 2 Open Burning:
Anyone planning to conduct category 2 open burning, should always check the ventilation index, follow the open burning smoke control regulations and practice safe burning. Create a fireguard around the planned fire site by clearing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material. Have an adequate source of pressurized water on hand. Never leave a fire unattended and make sure the fire is fully extinguished with ashes cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

More information on category 2 open burn safety: http://ow.ly/qLxI50A9qTN

Category 3 Open Burning:
Category 3 open burning will be temporarily permitted for the Arrow, Kootenay Lake, and Columbia fire zones within the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

However, category 3 open burn prohibitions will remain in effect for the Boundary, Cranbrook, and Invermere fire zones where the following activities are still prohibited:

any fire larger than two metres high by three metres wide;
three or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide; and
the burning of stubble or grass over an area greater than 0.2 hectares;
the burning of one or more windrows.

Anyone wishing to light a Category 3 open fire must obtain a burn registration number ahead of time by calling 1 888 797-1717. A burn registration number is not required to light a Category 2 open fire.

Reminders About Category 3 Open Burning:
As a reminder, all Category 3 open fires must comply with the Environmental Management Act and the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. This requires individuals to not only check local venting conditions prior to lighting a fire, but to also understand what Category Area your burn is carried out in along with all other obligations associated with these regulations.

A summary of Good Practices related to fire preparedness for the forest industry can be found online at: https://www.bcfpb.ca/…/…/SIR30-Summary-of-Good-Practices.pdf

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://ow.ly/tNa850Aasv5

The BC Wildfire Service thanks the public for its continued support, vigilance and co-operation during this fire season. The Southeast Fire Centre encompasses the area extending from the United States border in the south to Mica Dam in the north, and from the Okanagan Highlands or Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. The Southeast Fire Centre includes the Selkirk and Rocky Mountain natural resource districts.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

Learn More:
A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available online at: http://ow.ly/znny309kJv5

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Contact:

Kimberly Wright
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Southeast Fire Centre
250 608-8951