Category 3 fire bans to take affect next month

People living in the majority of communities within the Kamloops Fire Centre, including Vernon and Kelowna, will be restricted as to what kind of fires they can light for the next several months.

The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said Category 3 open fires will be prohibited starting at noon, May 3, and will remain in place until October 11.

The prohibition will be in place for most of the Vernon, Kamloops, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet Fire Zones within the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Category 3 open fires will be prohibited in the yellow areas starting May 3 (image courtesy of the B.C. Wildfire Service)

Category 3 open fires refer to material in piles that exceed two metres in height or three metres in width, one or more windrows that exceed 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width, or stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.

“This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety,” the BCWS stated in a release.

“These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise in an enactment (e.g. in a local government bylaw). Before lighting any fire, people should check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in effect.”

The prohibition does not restrict people from having campfires or burning smaller piles of material.

Anyone found in in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be fined $1,150; be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If an open burning contravention results in or contributes to a wildfire, the person may be forced to pay for the firefighting and associated costs resulting from the fire.

People are reminded to report fire activities to their local fire department, and to contact BCWS to report wildfires toll-free at 1-800-663-5555 or by dialing *5555 on a cellphone.