Effective at noon on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, campfires are once again permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

The campfire ban was rescinded due to recent widespread precipitation, which resulted in a decreased risk of wildfires in the region. The fire danger rating is now primarily “low” to “moderate” throughout the fire centre.

Here’s some important campfire safety information:

• Have a shovel or at least eight litres of water available nearby to properly extinguish your campfire.
• Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide.
• Do not light a campfire or keep it burning in windy conditions. Weather can change quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material.
• You must maintain a one-metre fireguard around the campfire. This is a fuel-free area where all flammable materials (grass, kindling, etc.) have been removed.
• Never leave a campfire unattended.
• Make sure that the campfire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.
• People who light campfires are legally responsible for making sure that they don’t escape. They may be held accountable for damages and fire suppression costs if their negligence results in a wildfire.

Category 2 and 3 open fires remain prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. These prohibitions include all open fires larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre high, fires with a burn registration number, industrial burning, fireworks, sky lanterns and burning barrels.

These prohibitions cover all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but do 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 governments 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.

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