Open burning restrictions are now in effect in most of the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.
Since April 1, Kamloops Fire Centre crews have responded to wildfire incidents covering approximately 300 hectares. Many of these wildfires resulted from poorly planned open burning.
Current restrictions came into effect on May 15, and will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2012. Prohibition applies to all areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre except the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones.
A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bcwildfire.ca/ftp/!Project/WildfireNews/KFCMay15.pdf
The Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones will become subject to this prohibition on June 15, when all open burning will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.
Specifically, prohibited activities include:
* The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) at a size larger than a half-metre by a half-metre in size.
* The burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time.
* Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.
* The use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description.
This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.
This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local civic authorities regarding any current prohibitions.
The Kamloops Fire Centre stretches from the northern border of Wells Gray Park near Blue River to the U.S. border to the south, and from the Bridge River Glacier west of Gold Bridge to the Monashee Mountains east of Lumby.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition 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 contravention 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.