The B.C. Wildfire Service is preparing for increased wildfire activity as the weather remains hot and dry for the Prince George Fire Centre.

The public is urged to use extra caution with any fire and report any smoke or wildfires that are seen.

Since April 1, the Wildfire Service has responded to 48 fires within the Prince George Fire Centre.

All fires are believed to be human-caused.

With the unseasonably dry and windy conditions, forests and grasslands in the region are overly susceptible to wildfires.

The B.C. Wildfire Service strongly recommends that anyone who conducted a Category 2 or Category 3 open burn within the last 12 months check the burn site to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished.

According to the service, some of the wildfires that have occurred this season have been caused by burn piled that were not properly extinguished.

There is currently a Category 2 open burning prohibition in effect in Fort Nelson, Fort St. John and Dawson Creek fire zones.

Anyone found violating the open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.

If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

For more information, visit the B.C. Government website.