Effective at noon on June 16, 2016, the Kamloops Fire Centre will be expanding its current Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions to include a ban on the use of binary exploding targets.

Since April 1, 2016, the BC Wildfire Service has responded to numerous incidents within the Kamloops Fire Centre where binary exploding targets are suspected to have caused wildfires.

Binary exploding targets are homemade or pre-packaged explosives (such as Tannerite, Firebird or Sure Shot) that are used for firearms practice so a shooter can see from a distance whether the target was hit.

These targets have been added to the following list of prohibited activities in an effort to prevent human-caused wildfires:

• the burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre
• the burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time
• stubble or grass fires of any size over any area
• the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burning barrels or binary exploding targets of any size or description

The current 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.

This prohibition covers all British Columbia parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place that meet the criteria of the Wildfire Regulation (Section 2.2) and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, people should check with local authorities to see if any other burning bylaws or restrictions are in effect.

Anyone found in contravention of a burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, 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 a 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 *5555 on a cellphone or 1 800 663-5555 toll-free. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

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