There are 13 new wildfires burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre, including three new “fires of note” in the Penticton, Merritt and Kamloops fire zones.

Construction is now underway on a new air-quality monitoring site for Kamloops residents at Pacific Way Elementary school in the Upper Aberdeen neighbourhood.

Due to the ongoing threat of wildfires, high-risk activities such as cutting firewood are subject to restrictions throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Effective at noon on Friday, July 3, 2015, all open fires - including campfires - will be prohibited throughout the entire Kamloops Fire Centre. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

The Wildfire Management Branch is sending 31 firefighting personnel to the Yukon to aid in fire suppression efforts there. Ten three-person initial attack crews and one agency representative are leaving B.C. today and are expected to arrive in Whitehorse tonight.

The Wildfire Management Branch has sent additional firefighting personnel and resources to Alaska to assist with wildfire suppression efforts there.

Another 41 Wildfire Management Branch personnel, including two unit crews and one agency representative, are being deployed to Alberta to assist with that province’s wildfire situation.

The Wildfire Management Branch is sending 88 personnel and two fixed-wing aircraft to Alberta to aid in fire suppression efforts, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced.

Effective at noon on Friday, May 15, 2015, the size of open fires will be restricted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.