Effective 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, April 24, 2026, a Category 2 and Category 3 open fire prohibition is in effect across the Bulkley and Nadina Fire Zones, including the Nadina Forest District and the Skeena portion of the Skeena Stikine Forest District.
This prohibition applies to all areas that are outside of municipal boundaries. In addition, this prohibition applies to the following types of Crown land within municipal boundaries:
- parks, conservancies and recreation areas (Park Act);
- recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas (Forest and Range Practices Act);
- ecological reserves (Ecological Reserve Act);
- wildlife management areas (Wildlife Act); and
- private managed forest land (Private Managed Forest Land Act).
The prohibition is expected to remain in place until September 25, 2026, or until further notice.
Category 1 campfires are not included in this prohibition.
All existing Category 2 or 3 fires must be fully extinguished by April 24, 2026.
A Category 3 open fire is a fire that burns:
- Material concurrently in 3 or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material in one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width
- One or more windrows, not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)
A Category 2 open fire is a fire that burns:
- Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Material concurrently in 2 piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
- Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares (2,000 square metres)
In addition to Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, the following activities will also be prohibited:
- Binary exploding targets
- Fireworks, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers
To report a wildfire call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
View the information bulletin here: BC Wildfire Service - Category 2 & 3 open fire prohibition planned for parts of the Northwest Fire Centre
For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity and prohibitions, please visit www.bcwildfire.ca
Find out more on the different categories: Open Fire and Safer Burning Information
Contact Information:
Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service | Northwest Fire Centre
250-876-6844
BCWS.NWFCInfo@gov.bc.ca