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Campfires banned within the Kamloops Fire Centre

The fire danger rating is currently "high" with scattered pockets of "extreme".

KAMLOOPS - Effective at noon on Thursday, Aug. 1, all campfires will be

prohibited across the Kamloops Fire Centre.

A map of the area covered by the campfire ban is available online at:

http://bit.ly/12Rkuu6

This step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and

protect public safety. The fire danger rating is currently "high"

throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, with scattered pockets of "extreme".

With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region

have displayed very aggressive behaviour and required additional fire

suppression resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical

resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires.

Open burning is prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. This

prohibition applies to open fires of any size, fires with a burn

registration number, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky

lanterns and burning barrels. The prohibition does not apply to cooking

stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire

apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous

fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

The open burning prohibition covers all BC 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 local governments for any other restrictions before

lighting a fire.

Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban, including campfires, 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.

This prohibition will remain in place until the public is notified that it

has been rescinded.

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning

restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to:

www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news -

* On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

* On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo