According to the Kamloops Fire Centre website, all open fires are prohibited until Oct. 1 in the Clearwater Fire Zone.
The ban does not apply to campfires that are a half-meter high by a half-meter wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
The open fire ban also applies in the Salmon Arm Fire Zone until Oct. 1. There is an open fire ban until Oct. 15 in the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet Fire Zones as well.
The open fire ban prohibits:
• burning any waste, slash or other material;
• burning stubble or grass; and
• the use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description.
“Campfires are still allowed in the province, but please remember wildfires can start in an instant,” said Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “Be extremely cautious with any flame source, including cigarettes, candles and tiki torches, when camping, hiking or otherwise enjoying B.C.’s backcountry.”
People lighting a campfire must maintain a fireguard by removing flammable debris from the campfire area, and must have a hand tool or at least eight liters of water nearby to properly extinguish a fire escape.
For information on wildfires, area restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, check: www.bcforestfireinfo.gov.bc.ca/
While some open burning is still allowed in the Northwest, Prince George and Cariboo Fire Centers, the public is reminded to exercise caution.
No matter what type of burning you are doing, whether it is to clean up your backyard or roast marshmallows, make sure that you have enough people, tools and water nearby to keep the fire under control. Even in cooler conditions, it is best to play it safe and keep practising campfire safety. Never light a fire in windy conditions and always completely extinguish the fire before leaving the area.
Where restrictions are in place, compliance and enforcement officers will ensure people are following the regulations.
Failure to comply with open burning regulations can result in a $345 ticket. Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million and/or spend three years in prison.