With unseasonably warm and dry weather conditions expected to continue over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend, the Kamloops Fire Centre is urging the public to continue to be cautious with their outdoor activities.

The Kamloops Fire Centre has responded to 440 wildfires since April 1, 17 of which were ignited in the last week. The majority of these fires were caused by people. The public is reminded that all open fires larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre high (as well as burn barrel and fireworks use) are currently prohibited in most of the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones: Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are prohibited at elevations below 1,200 metres in the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones until Oct. 15, 2012, or until the public is informed otherwise.

Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones: Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are prohibited at all elevations in the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones until Oct. 31, 2012, or until the public is informed otherwise.

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/Rl2J35

Check http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp regularly for the latest news on open fire prohibitions. For information on current fires of note throughout the province, go to www.bcwildfire.ca.

To report a wildfire or prohibited open fire, please call *5555 on your cell phone or 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.

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Media Contact:

Michaela Swan
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5532 (office)
250 318-7456 (cell)