As of May 24, Kamloops Fire Centre has responded to 40 wildfires consuming 202 hectares since April 1, 2011. This is well below the 10 year average of 67 wildfires burning a total 222 hectares.
There were no new wildfires over the May long week-end.
It is still too early to predict what the fire season may hold for the 2011 season. In 2003 for this time of year we had only responded to 32 wildfires burning 49 hectares and that turned into a devastating wildfire season. On the opposite side in 2009 KFC had responded to 97 wildfires burning a total of 820 hectares.
Wildfire management staff are still monitoring the weather conditions closely and have resources available to respond to any incidents that may occur. Given the current fire conditions, we are fortunate to be able to offer assistance to the province of Alberta during their active spring wildfire season. Their province has supported us in periods of increased activities, so it is nice to be able to return the favour.
A reminder that open burning is prohibited in the majority of the Kamloops Fire Centre, excluding the Clearwater and Salmon Arm Fire Zones.
For the latest information on fire activity, bans and restrictions and current conditions, visit the Wildfire Management Branch website at www.bcwildfire.ca. For Facebook and Twitter updates, as well as details about evacuation orders and alerts, road conditions and air quality advisories, go to www.firesafebc.ca.
Fire activity
Clearwater, zero fires; Kamloops, 11 fires - 7 hectares; Salmon Arm, two fires - 8 hectares; Vernon, four fires - four hectares; Penticton, seven fires - 11 hectares; Merritt, 11 fires - 168 hectares; Lillooet, 5 fires - eight hectares.
Prohibitions
Effective May 15, open fires are restricted within most of the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public. The restriction will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2011, or until fur-ther notice.
Specifically this 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.
These open fires and burning activities are prohibited in all the areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre except the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones. All open burning will be prohibited across the Kamloops Fire Centre effective June 15, 2011.
The ban does not prohibit campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, or to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes. 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 litres of water nearby to properly extinguish a fire escape.
This ban covers all B.C. parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $345, or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contra-vention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.