Campfire ban to begin Thursday in Kamloops Fire Centre

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is ordering a campfire ban effective noon Thursday (Aug. 4) throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

It says the measure is being taken to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

The prohibition applies to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction. The ban will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2022, or until the orders are rescinded.

In a news release Monday (Aug. 1), it says the Kamloops Fire Centre is experiencing hot and dry conditions with fire danger ratings generally from “high” to “extreme”.

When the ban goes into effect August 4, the following activities are prohibited:

• Campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Fireworks;
• Sky Lanterns;
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description;
• Binary Exploding Targets;
• Tiki and similar kind of torches; and,
• Chimineas, outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses not CSA or ULC approved.

Anyone found to be burning illegally could be subject to a ticket for $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. And if the illegal fire leads to a damaging wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.