WITH WARM, dry weather in the forecast, provincial fire officials are urging people to be careful with any use of fire use this weekend.

Not only should people have plenty of water and tools on hand if they want to have a campfire they should also know they might be paying the cost of fighting any fire that gets away from them.

Fire wardens will be patrolling campsites, looking for abandoned campfires and other non-compliance burning. Enforcement action will be taken if and when necessary. Firefighting crews on standby ready to be deployed if needed, and is prepared for the increased fire risk.

Open burning can and does cause wildfires. In the past ten years the Northwest Fire Centre has responded to 143 fires caused by open burning, the largest of which burnt 9,000 hectares. Although the burning ban has been lifted in the region, a ban may be re-issued if fire activity and open burning compliance issues increase.

Abandoned campfires also lead to costly and unnecessary wildfires. Since 1998 the Northwest Fire Centre has responded to 130 abandoned or escaped campfires, 88 of which have resulted in wildfires.

Since April 1, the Northwest Fire Centre has responded to 59 fires, 75% of which have been caused by human activity.

The Northwest Fire Centre is responsible for fire suppression and forest protection for an area that stretches from Burns Lake to the Queen Charlotte Islands and from Tweedmuir Park to the Yukon border.

If you see flame, smoke, or an abandoned campfire, please call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone. For more information on fire information, or burning restrictions please visit our website at www.bcwildfire.ca or call toll free to 1-888-3-FOREST.