Kamloops Fire Centre urges caution with spring burning

BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to be cautious with any open burning activities

Ministry of Forests

The Kamloops Fire Centre advises the area may experience an early drying trend this spring, therefore the BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to be cautious with any open burning activities.

FireSmart activities are encouraged this time of year to mitigate  interface wildfire risk, but there is a safe way to conduct backyard  burning. Homeowners and industry personnel are encouraged to visit the BC  Wildfire Service website at www.bcwildfire.ca/Prevention, consult the newly updated FireSmart Homeowner’s Manual, and take the following  precautions:

* Ensure that enough people, water and tools are on hand to control the  fire and prevent it from escaping.

* Do not burn during windy conditions. Weather conditions can change  quickly and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and  start new fires.

* Create a fireguard at least one metre around the planned fire site by  clearing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material.

* If you are planning a large burn, consider conducting smaller burns  around the perimeter beforehand to create a fuel break and help stop the  fire from spreading beyond its intended size. Each of these fires should  be kept small and must be completely extinguished before starting a new  fire.

* Never leave a fire unattended.

* Make sure that your fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are  cold to the touch before you leave the area for any length of time.

* Pay attention to changing weather conditions and follow all burning  regulations to help reduce the number of preventable wildfires.

Before conducting any burn, check with your local fire department,  municipality and regional district to see if there are any open burning  restrictions or bylaws in effect.

If you are planning to do any large-scale industrial burning or conduct a  grass burn larger than 0.2 hectares (Category 3 fires), you must obtain a  burn registration number ahead of time by calling 1-888-797-1717.

Always check the venting conditions before conducting an open burn. If  venting conditions are rated “Poor” or “Fair”, open burning is  restricted. The venting index can be found at:  http://www.bcairquality.ca/readings/ventilation-index.html

If an outdoor burn escapes and causes a wildfire, the  person responsible may be held accountable for damages and fire  suppression costs. To report a wildfire, please call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a  cellphone.

 

Barriere Star Journal