BCWS rescinds off-road vehicle ban for the Kamloops Fire Centre, including Merritt

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) will rescind the ban on off-road vehicles (ORV) in the Kamloops Fire Centre which includes Merritt and surrounding area.

The BCWS said the ban will lift at noon (PT) on Friday (Aug 28), after being put in place on Aug. 11 due to dry, hot conditions.

The ban applied to any ORVs — such as ATVs. motorcycles or off-road side-by-side vehicles — operated for recreation purposes.

This comes as fire activity and risk in the region has declined in recent days.

“Recent precipitation across much of the southern Interior has reduced wildfire risk enough to lift the ORV prohibition. While conditions have improved, wildfire risk remains and can change quickly, so the BC Wildfire Service will continue to monitor conditions closely,” said the BCWS.

That said, the ban on Category 1 campfire, Category 2 open fire, and Category 3 open fire remains in place throughout the Cariboo and Kamloops Fire Centres.

The prohibition on recreational ORV use will also be lifted in the Southeast and Coastal Fire Centres at the same time on Friday.