Effective at 12 noon on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, campfires are allowed within the Kamloops Fire Centre's jurisdiction due to a decreased risk for wildfires.

The public is reminded that campfires cannot be bigger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide, and that a minimum of eight litres of water must be nearby to prevent fire escapes. Always ensure ashes are cool to the touch before leaving an area.

All other open burning remains prohibited within the Kamloops Fire Centre. This includes:

• Burning any waste, slash or other material.
• Burning stubble or grass.
• Using fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description.

The ongoing ban covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $345, or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail.

The Kamloops Fire Centre covers the area extending from the northern border of Wells Gray Park, north of Blue River to the U.S. border in the south, and from the Bridge River Glacier west of Goldbridge to the Monashee Mountains east of Lumby.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, please call *5555 on your cellphone, or toll-free to 1 800 663-5555.

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, go to: http://www.bcforestfireinfo.gov.bc.ca/

You can also follow the latest wildfire news on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo and on Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Contact:

Mary Ann Leach
Fire Information Officer, Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5854