Effective at noon on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, the current open burning ban will be completely rescinded in the Salmon Arm Fire Zone.

In the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones, the existing Category 2 and 3 burning prohibitions will remain in place until Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, or until the public is informed otherwise.

A map of the affected areas is available online: http://bit.ly/1VjHKRa

The open fire prohibition applies to:

• The burning of any waste, slash or other materials.
• The burning of stubble or grass.
• The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.

This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

Anyone who lights a fire must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to prevent the fire from escaping.

This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local civic authorities regarding any other restrictions.

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

For information about open burning and tips on making responsible burning decisions, please download an open burning guide: http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp

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, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on your cellphone.

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the BC Wildfire Service website: www.bcwildfire.ca

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