Effective at noon on May 15, 2014, the size of open fires will be restricted in most of the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.
This prohibition applies to all areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre except the Clearwater Fire Zone and the Salmon Arm Fire Zone.
Anyone conducting Category 2 or 3 fires outside of those two zones must extinguish any such fires by noon on May 15.
This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2014, or until further notice.
Specifically, prohibited activities include:
* The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre.
* 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, sky lanterns 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 B.C. 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.
For information about open burning and tips on making responsible burning decisions, please download one of the open burning guides at:
http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.
Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call *5555 on your cellphone or call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free.
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Osoyoos Times
