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Fire ban extended to mid-October

Open fire bans in the Clearwater Fire Zone and the District of Clearwater have been extended to Oct. 15

Kamloops Fire Center and District of Clearwater announced Friday that open fire bans in the Clearwater Fire Zone and the District, which had been slated to end Oct. 1, will be extended to Oct. 15.

Within the Clearwater Fire Zone and District of Clearwater, Category 2 (backyard burning) and Category 3 (resource management) open fires are prohibited at elevations below 1,200 meters until Oct. 15 or until the public is informed otherwise.

The fire limitations also apply within the Salmon Arm Fire Zone.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires are prohibited at all elevations in the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones until Oct. 31 or until the public is informed otherwise.

Purpose of the extension is to help prevent human-caused wildfires and to protect the public. Due to recent warm and dry weather, 70 per cent of the region remains at a "high" or "extreme" fire danger rating.

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/Rl2J35

Specifically, these open fire prohibitions apply to:

• the burning of any material piled larger than a half-meter high by a half-meter wide.

• the burning of stubble or grass.

• using fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description.

Anyone found in violation of an open fire prohibition 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.

The open fire prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands.

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

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