Effective today, Oct. 15, 2012, campfires and all open fires will be permitted in the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

All fires larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide remain prohibited in the rest of the Kamloops Fire Centre until Oct. 31, 2012, or until the public is otherwise notified.

A map of the area affected can be found here: http://bit.ly/WpOT1p

Anyone lighting a Category 3 fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling

1 888 797-1717 and must comply with air-quality control legislation. A Category 3 fire is a fire that burns: material piled more than two metres in height or three metres in width, or stubble or grass over more than 2,000 square metres, or more than two piles of any size.

A person who lights a fire must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to stop the fire from escaping.

The rescinding of this prohibition applies to 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.

The Kamloops Fire Centre stretches from the northern border of Wells Gray Park near Blue River to the U.S. border to the south, and from the Bridge River Glacier west of Gold Bridge to the Monashee Mountains east of Lumby.

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

Learn more:

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Media Contact:

Kevin Skrepnek
Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5964
Kevin.Skrepnek@gov.bc.ca