The campfire ban was lifted last week in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) and the municipalities within it.

The change took effect on Friday, Oct. 9 at noon and affects open fires, campfires and fires in portable wood burning fireplaces within the RDOS Fire Protection Areas.

The ban was put in place throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre early in July. When the province lifted the ban on Aug. 31, the RDOS chose to keep it in place because of continuing dry conditions.

Last week’s decision to lift the ban resulted from the changing season, the RDOS said in a news release.

The public is encouraged to continue to restrict their campfires to no larger than a half metre by a half metre in size and to have a hand tool such as a shovel or at least eight litres of water nearby to extinguish it.

People are also reminded never to leave a campfire unattended and to make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Most of B.C. currently has a very low wildfire danger rating. In the Osoyoos area, the rating as of Sunday ranged from very low to small pockets of high to the east of the town.

The Okanagan is still rated as being at a level 3 drought (very dry), while the Similkameen is now in level 2 (dry). Both watersheds were ranked as level 4 (very dry) during the summer.

Meanwhile, B.C. Wildfire Service announced Tuesday that effective at noon on Thursday, Oct. 15, the current open burning ban will be completely rescinded within the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

The rescind order 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. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local civic authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in place.

Anyone who lights an open fire must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to prevent the fire escaping. Anyone lighting a Category 3 fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1-888-797-1717 and must comply with air quality control legislation.

A Category 3 fire is a fire that burns:

  • material piled more than two metres in height or three metres in width
  • stubble or grass covering more than 0.2 hectares
  • more than two piles of any size.

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