Fire Ban Now in Effect Across Skeena-Stikine as B.C. Warns of Rising Wildfire Risk
By Skeena News
A fire ban is now in effect across parts of Northwest B.C. as provincial officials warn residents, travellers, businesses and rural property owners to prepare for a summer of rising wildfire and drought risk.
The City of Terrace says Category 3 open fires and related equipment and activities have been prohibited since noon on Friday, June 12, across the Coast Mountain Fire District and the Skeena Stikine Forest District. Terrace follows the direction of the Northwest Fire Region, and the ban will remain in place until further notice.
The BC Wildfire Service later confirmed that Category 3 open fires remain prohibited across the entire Northwest Fire Centre, while Category 2 open fire prohibitions are being expanded across the full Northwest Fire Centre effective noon on Friday, June 19. That includes the Nadina Forest District, Coast Mountain Forest District and Skeena Stikine Forest District.
For people in Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Hazelton, Stewart, Houston, Burns Lake and surrounding rural areas, the message is clear: burning rules are tightening as B.C. heads into a hotter and drier part of the year.
What Is Banned?
A Category 3 open fire generally includes larger burns such as three or more piles of material, one or more piles larger than two metres high or three metres wide, windrows, or stubble and grass burning over an area greater than 0.2 hectares.
Under the Northwest Fire Centre restrictions, the following are also prohibited across the region:
- Category 2 open fires
- Category 3 open fires
- Fireworks
- Binary exploding targets
- Burn barrels and burn cages
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burners
- Carbonizers
The City of Terrace has noted that the June 12 Category 3 prohibition does not ban Category 1 campfires that are half a metre high by half a metre wide or smaller. BC Wildfire Service also says the latest Northwest Fire Centre restrictions do not include Category 1 campfires.
However, residents should not assume a campfire is automatically allowed everywhere. Municipalities, First Nations, regional districts, campgrounds, recreation sites and parks may have their own rules. People should always check local restrictions before lighting any fire.
Why This Matters Now
B.C. officials are warning that the province is entering another summer where wildfire and drought risks could increase quickly.
The provincial government says seasonal forecasts point to elevated wildfire and drought risk in parts of British Columbia this summer. Although much of the province saw a cooler and wetter start to June, the province says warmer-than-normal summer conditions are expected across much of B.C.
That warning matters in Northwest B.C. because fire conditions can change fast. Even when Terrace or nearby communities receive rain, dry fuels, wind, lightning, heat and human activity can create dangerous conditions across nearby forests, highways, rural properties and backcountry areas.
The B.C. government is urging people to stay informed, watch local fire danger ratings, follow fire bans and prepare emergency plans before a wildfire or evacuation alert occurs.
Province Warns of Wildfire and Drought Pressure
The provincial government says wildfire and drought risks are increasing as British Columbia moves into the summer season.
Emergency officials are encouraging residents and visitors to create or refresh emergency plans, prepare grab-and-go bags, register for Emergency Support Services where appropriate, and stay alert for evacuation alerts and orders.
The province also says B.C.’s overall snowpack was at 64 per cent of normal in the June 1 snowpack survey. Low snowpack, early snowmelt and warmer seasonal forecasts can increase drought pressure and water scarcity risks in parts of the province.
For Northwest B.C., this means preparedness is not only about fire. It is also about water use, rural property safety, access roads, emergency communication and knowing what to do if smoke, fire or evacuation notices affect a community.
What Residents Should Do
Residents in Terrace and surrounding communities should take the fire ban seriously and treat this as the start of a higher-risk summer period.
People should check current BC Wildfire Service restrictions before burning, avoid any prohibited open fire activity, never use fireworks or burn barrels during the prohibition, and report smoke or suspected wildfires immediately.
Homeowners and rural property owners should also clear dry leaves, grass and debris from around buildings, move firewood and combustibles away from homes, clean gutters, check water access, and make sure vehicles and equipment are not creating sparks in dry grass.
Anyone travelling in Northwest B.C. should know the local fire danger rating, monitor EmergencyInfoBC, check BC Wildfire Service updates, and be prepared to change travel plans if conditions worsen.
Penalties Can Be Serious
Violating a fire prohibition can lead to major penalties. People who break an open fire prohibition may receive a $1,150 ticket, face an administrative penalty of up to $10,000, or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and face up to one year in jail.
If a prohibited fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, the consequences can be much more severe. A person may be fined up to $1 million, face up to three years in jail, and be ordered to pay firefighting and related costs.
How to Report a Wildfire
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 from a cellphone.
Residents can also use the BC Wildfire Service mobile app for current wildfire information, fire bans, maps and public updates.
The Bottom Line
The fire ban now in effect across Skeena-Stikine and surrounding Northwest B.C. districts is more than a routine seasonal restriction. It is a warning that wildfire risk is rising and that human-caused fires must be prevented before they put communities, homes, forests and emergency crews at risk.
For Terrace and the wider Northwest, the safest approach is simple: check the rules, avoid risky burning, prepare early and report smoke fast.
As B.C. moves deeper into summer, wildfire preparedness is no longer optional. It is a community responsibility.
