District of Clearwater council thinks having standard dates for enacting and removing open burning prohibitions would be a good idea.
During their April 6 meeting councilors voted to support a proposals from Kamloops Fire Center to have standard dates for each of the fire zones within the center.
Under the proposed rules, for example, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires would be prohibited as of June 15 at all elevations within the Clearwater Fire Zone. The bans would be lifted on Sept. 15 above 1,200 meters and on Oct. 1 for below 1,200 meters.
Other fire zones, such as Vernon, Penticton and Lillooet, would have different standard opening and closing dates.
The proposal from the Kamloops Fire Center came in response to a request made during a meeting with Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA).
Category 2 open fires burn material smaller than two meters in height and three meters in width, or stubble or grass covering less than 2,000 square meters.
Category 3 open fires are larger than two meters by three meters, cover an area larger than 2,000 square meters, or burn more than two piles of any size.