Effective at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, the current Category 2 and Category 3 open burning bans in the Clearwater Fire Zone and Salmon Arm Fire Zone will be rescinded.

However, Category 2 and Category 3 prohibitions will remain in place in the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones until Oct. 15, 2016, or until the public is otherwise notified. A map of the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/C19B304deOs

These open fire prohibitions apply to:

• the burning of any waste, slash or other materials
• the lighting of more than two open fires of any size at the same time
• the burning of stubble or grass
• the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, tiki torches or burning barrels of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets

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.

This prohibition covers all BC 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 to see if any other restrictions are in effect.

To learn more about open burning categories, fire bans and fire restrictions, or to download an open burning guide, please visit:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-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.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a 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 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 a cellphone.

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

You can also follow the latest B.C. wildfire news:

• On Twitter: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
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