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.

This step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. A map of the area covered by this open burning prohibition and campfire ban is available online at: http://bit.ly/1sfqVr9

The fire danger rating is currently “high” throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, with some areas rated “extreme”. With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have displayed aggressive behaviour and have required additional firefighting resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires.

In addition to campfires, this prohibition applies to open fires of any size, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels. This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

This burning prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire department. Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, 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.

To report a wildfire or an open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Kelsey Winter
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5964
Kelsey.Winter@gov.bc.ca