Effective at noon on Wednesday, July 16, all campfires were prohibited across the Kamloops Fire Centre.
District of Clearwater follows the Kamloops Fire Centre campfire ban and so the open burning prohibition includes the land within the municipal boundary.
This ban is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.
The fire danger rating is currently “high” throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, with scattered pockets of “extreme”. With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have displayed very aggressive behaviour and required additional fire suppression resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires. The campfire ban means that all open burning is prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. This prohibition applies to open fires of any size, fires with a burn registration number, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels. The prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.
Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban, including campfires, may be issued a ticket for up to $345.
Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness may be fined up to $1 million, spend up to three years in prison and be held accountable for associated firefighting costs.
This prohibition will remain in place until the public is notified that it has been rescinded.
For the latest information on burning restrictions, go to www.bcwildfire.ca or www.districtofclearwater.com.
