As of noon on Sunday, May 15, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.
Campfires, which are defined as a fire smaller than 0.5 meters high by 0.5 meters wide, will be exempt. The prohibition also will not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
Kamloops Fire Centre includes the Clearwater Fire Zone.
Clearwater fire chief Mike Smith has confirmed that the ban will also apply to District of Clearwater. The municipality has a bylaw that it always follows the provincial lead on fire bans.
From April 1 to May 11, 2016, BC Wildfire Service crews responded to 36 wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre. Many of these wildfires were the result of poorly planned open burning.
Anyone intending to conduct any fire larger than a campfire must extinguish it by noon on May 15. This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15 or until further notice.
Specifically, prohibited activities will include:
• The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre.
• The burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time.
• Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.
• The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.
A poster explaining the different categories of open burning is available line at http://bit.ly/1GlhE9l.
This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a violation 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.
If you see flames or smoke, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on your cellphone.
For the latest information on wildfire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the B.C. Wildfire Service website: www.bcwildfire.ca
You can also follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:
• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
