By Times Chronicle Staff
Campfires and other open fires are banned in the Kamloops Fire Centre effective noon Friday, July 12.
A campfire is defined as any fire no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide (a fire larger than this is considered a Category 2 fire) and used by any person for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.
Category 2 and 3 open fires are also banned.
In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:
- Fireworks;
- Sky Lanterns;
- Binary Exploding Targets;
- Air curtain burners;
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description;
- Chimineas; and,
- Tiki and similar kinds of torches.
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). This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves.
BC Wildfire graphic.
Anyone found contravening an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, 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 the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
Noting that camping is a long-standing tradition in this province, the government said it “recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.
“Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.”
To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663 5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone or by using the BC Wildfire smartphone app.
