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Open burning restricted in Burns Lake area

Burns Lake has had several days of “high” fire danger rating recently.

Effective at noon on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, campfires and category three open fires are once again allowed in all areas of the Northwest Fire Centre.

However, the category two open burning prohibition that’s currently in place in parts of the Northwest Fire Centre remains in effect. The Lakes District, as well as Houston and Granisle, are included in this prohibition.

Since last week, Burns Lake has had several days of “high” fire danger rating. Campfires and other types of open burning had been prohibited in some areas of the Northwest Fire Centre on Aug. 19 to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

The northwest region received lots of rain over the weekend and fire danger ratings subsequently fell to “low” or “moderate” in most of the fire centre.

On Aug. 21, a fire north of Endako - on Hog Road - was started by lightening. The Burns Lake unit of the B.C. Wildfire Service responded to this fire, which was 0.009 hectares by Monday Aug. 22. According to Haley Williams, Fire Information Officer for the Northwest Fire Centre, this is not a fire of concern and no communities or structures are threatened.

Last week, the Burns Lake unit was sent near the Yukon border to help fight the Blue River wildfire. This wildfire is located about 22 km south of the Yukon border and has been mapped at 4687 hectares  hectares.

Williams said no structures or communities are at risk and Hwy. 37 remains open.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.