http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/News.asp Ministry of Forests and Range: Wildfire Management Branch Copyright 2009, Province of British Columbia en-ca Thu, 11 Oct 2011 08:53:00 PST http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=1862
Costs for the deployment will be covered by the Manitoba government under the Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement, which allows for the movement of firefighting resources across Canada.

In addition to this deployment, one airtanker group and one air attack officer, who is replaced every 14 days, continue to assist the U.S. Forest Service fight wildfires in Austin, Texas.

To date, B.C. has recovered approximately $27 million from sending 2,051 personnel out-of-province this fire season.

Quick Facts:

• So far this year, the distance logged during ground deployments to Alberta and Washington equals the number of kilometres required to circumnavigate the globe four times.
• Deployments provide B.C. crews with ongoing experience and training during the slowest fire season on record since 1954. With this latest deployment, a total of 2,073 B.C. personnel will have been sent out-of-province this year.
• Agency representatives act as the link between the deployed crews and the Wildfire Management Branch.
• Current wildfire information in Manitoba is available at: http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/fire/index.html
• Report smoke and flames by calling *5555 on mobile phones or 1 800 663-5555.
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The rescinding of this prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

Anyone considering Category 2 or 3 fires must comply with the Ministry of Environment's Waste Management Act and Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation. For more information, go to: www.bcairquality.ca

Category 3 fires require a burn registration number, which may be obtained by calling
1 888 797-1717. Individuals who fail to meet these requirements may be subject to fines.

Please follow these tips on using fire safely:

• Keep fire sites away from buildings, trees and other combustible materials.
• Do not burn during windy conditions.
• Have adequate people, water and hand tools available to prevent the fire from escaping.
• Have an adequate fuel break around burn piles.
• Never leave a fire unattended.

The onus is on each individual to ensure safe, responsible burning. Those found to have been responsible for an escaped fire may be liable for fire suppression costs and damages.

The Southeast Fire Centre encompasses the area extending from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands/Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C./Alberta border in the east. This includes the Selkirk and Rocky Mountain resource districts.

Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling *5555 on your cellphone or toll-free to
1 800 663-5555.
]]> Sun, 07 Oct 2011 09:58:00 PST http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=1860 Backyard burns, or Category 2 open fires, can be no bigger than two metres high and three metres wide. Burning grass or stubble cannot be done over an area greater than 2,000 square metres. Anyone who lights a fire must have sufficient people, water and hand tools nearby to extinguish it, and must never leave it unattended. Failure to exercise due diligence with open fires can result in a $345 fine. Under the Wildfire Act, an individual found responsible for causing a wildfire may face a fine from $100,000 to $1 million, one to three years imprisonment, or both. The rescinding of this prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for restrictions before lighting a fire. The Southeast Fire Centre encompasses the area extending from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands/Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C./Alberta border in the east. This includes the Selkirk and Rocky Mountain resource districts. Report a wildfire or unattended campfire by calling *5555 on your cellphone or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcforestfireinfo.gov.bc.ca
You can also follow the latest wildfire news -- On Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/BCGovFireInfo On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo]]> Fri, 05 Oct 2011 10:08:00 PST