# BC Wildfire Service bulletin summary

- Captured: 2026-08-20T06:48:00-07:00
- Official bulletin: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-2-and-3-open-fire-to-be-prohibited-for-parts-of-the-prince-george-fire-centre/
- WP JSON endpoint: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/wp-json/wp/v2/posts?slug=category-2-and-3-open-fire-to-be-prohibited-for-parts-of-the-prince-george-fire-centre
- Bulletin date: 2026-08-19T14:13:24
- Bulletin title: Category 2 and 3 open fire to be prohibited for parts of the Prince George Fire Centre

## Key official facts extracted

- Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, August 20, 2026, Category 2 and Category 3 open burning is prohibited in the Stuart Nechako Forest District (VanJam Fire Zone), except areas within municipal boundaries.
- The post later specifies the practical affected areas as all areas of the Vanderhoof and Fort St. James Fire Zones outside municipal boundaries, plus listed Crown-land categories inside municipal boundaries.
- Existing Category 2 and Category 3 open fires in the affected area must be extinguished by the noon Aug. 20 deadline.
- The prohibition remains until noon Oct. 15, 2026, or until rescinded.
- The specific prohibition does not include Category 1 campfires, but residents and visitors still need to check municipal, regional district, improvement district and BC Parks/local rules.
- Prohibited related equipment/activities listed by BCWS: binary exploding targets, fireworks, burn barrels/burn cages, controlled air incinerators, air curtain burners and carbonizers.
- BCWS states offence consequences can include a $1,150 ticket, $10,000 administrative penalty, court fine up to $100,000 and/or up to one year in jail; if a fire causes or contributes to wildfire, penalties may reach $1 million and/or up to three years in jail plus firefighting costs.

## Editorial caveat

This is an official prevention/restriction bulletin, not an evacuation order, fire boundary, road detour or cause determination.