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Forest Service ends campfire ban

Despite the lifting of the ban and the recent rain, the danger of wildfire remains

lThe campfire ban is now over.

According to Richard Swift, wildfire coordination officer with Clearwater Fire Zone, the ban ended on Monday, Aug. 31, at noon for the entire Kamloops Fire Centre, which stretches from the U.S. border to the north end of Wells Gray Park.

Despite the lifting of the ban and the recent rain, the danger of wildfire remains, he cautioned.

“The rain knocked things down but didn't change a lot of our condition. Things could bounce back. There is still a risk,” he said.

Swift noted that a campfire is defined as an open fire that burns piled material no larger than 0.5 m in height and 0.5 m in width and is used by any person for recreational purpose, or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.

It does not include industrial fires or fires for burning backyard waste.

Fire Zone staff will be taking down signs telling of the ban as quickly as possible, he said.

The only fire to be actioned in the Clearwater Fire Zone last week was a 0.1 ha blaze in the area of eight km on Vavenby Road 2. The fire was found on Aug. 25 and declared out on Aug. 28.