Effective at noon on May 19, 2017, the size of open fires will be restricted in some parts of the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

Anyone conducting Category 2 or Category 3 open burns in these areas must extinguish those fires by noon on May 19. This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2017, or until further notice.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be prohibited in the following areas:

• Kamloops Fire Zone, North Prohibition Area (below 1,200 metres)
• Kamloops Fire Zone, South Prohibition Area (all elevations)
• Vernon Fire Zone (below 1,200 metres)
• Merritt Fire Zone (all elevations)
• Lillooet Fire Zone (all elevations)
• Penticton Fire Zone (all elevations)

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://ow.ly/7GmU30bJMEl

The line separating the Kamloops Fire Zone’s North Prohibition Area and South Prohibition Area runs along Highway 24 from the western boundary of the Kamloops Fire Zone to Little Fort, then south along Highway 5 to Agate Bay Road, east to the north shore of Skwaam Bay on Adams Lake, north along the east side of Adams Lake to Bug Camp Creek, and along Bug Camp Creek to the Kamloops Fire Zone’s eastern boundary.

Specifically, prohibited Category 2 and category 3 burning activities will include:

• 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 or burning barrels of any size or description
• the use of binary exploding targets

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

This prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands in these areas, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire protection bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.

Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local government authorities to check if any other burning restrictions or bylaws are in effect. Always check the venting conditions before conducting any open burn. If venting conditions are rated “poor” or “fair”, open burning is restricted. The venting index can be found online (click on “Ventilation Index” on the right side of the page): http://www.bcairquality.ca/readings/ventilation-index.html

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The Kamloops Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continued help in preventing wildfires. Anyone who sees flames or smoke should call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or dial *5555 on a cellphone.

For the latest information on wildfire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit the B.C. Wildfire Service website: www.bcwildfire.ca

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

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

Learn More:

More information about open burning categories, fire bans and fire restrictions is available online at: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/fire-bans-and-restrictions