Campfire Ban in effect for Kamloops Fire Centre

Starting today (August 28) , the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) has issued a campfire ban for the Kamloops Fire Centre which includes Merritt and surrounding area.

In a press release, the BCWS said that the the following open fires are prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre;

• Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation; and,
• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.

The wildfire ban begins at noon today (August 28) and will remain in effect until Oct. 17 or until orders are rescinded.

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).
• Used by any person for recreational purposes or by a First Nation for a ceremonial purpose.

In addition to campfires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:

• Air curtain burners
• Carbonizers
• Binary exploding targets
• Fireworks, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC
• Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description
• Controlled air incinerators
• Sky lanterns
• Wood fired hot tubs, wood fired pizza ovens and other wood fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building

Failure to comply with the campfire ban could result in fines ranging from $1150 to $100,000.