Campfire Ban Rescinded - June 16, 2023

For Immediate Release

Ministry of Forests
BC Wildfire Service

Campfire prohibitions to rescind in Kamloops Fire Centre

KAMLOOPS – As a result of favourable weather over the last week and cooler conditions forecast in the coming days, Category 1 campfires will again be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, June 16, 2023.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited until noon on Oct. 13, 2023, or until the orders are rescinded.

In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:

• Fireworks;
• Sky Lanterns;
• Binary Exploding Targets;
• Air Curtain Burners; and
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description, except when used for a Category 1 campfire as defined by the Wildfire Regulation.

To learn more about the different categories of open burning, visit the Open Burning webpage.

These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction unless specified otherwise in an enactment (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Always check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in effect.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $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.

Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.

The Kamloops Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires. To report a wildfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories call 1 888 3-FOREST or visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

People can follow the latest wildfire news:

• on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices
• on Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• on Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Contact:

Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Kamloops Fire Centre

250 554-5965

Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.