Campfire ban coming into effect in Merritt area

Campfires within the Kamloops Fire Centre will be banned by the end of the week.

Effective 12:00 noon Friday (July 10), the BC Wildfire Service says campfires will be prohibited in all areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre that are outside of municipal boundaries. It includes parks, recreational sites and trails.

The wildfire service defines a campfire as an open fire that is no larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide. Category 2 and 3 open fires were prohibited within the Kamloops Fire Centre as of May 7.

In a news release issued Tuesday (July 7), the wildfire service says the prohibition is meant to help prevent human-caused wildfires. In 2025, a campfire ban wasn’t placed in the Kamloops Fire Centre until Aug. 28.

“Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province,” the wildfire service says. “The B.C. government 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.”

The wildfire service notes the campfire ban doesn’t include the use of outdoor stoves. An outdoor stove is defined as a device used for cooking, heat or ambience that burns charcoal briquettes, or liquid or gaseous fuel, with a flame height under 15 centimetres.

Anyone found violating an open burning prohibition may be ticketed 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.

Residents are encouraged to call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone if they spot a wildfire, as well as submitting a photo on the BC Wildfire Service mobile app.

The campfire ban in Kamloops will remain in place until noon on Oct. 9, 2026, or until the order is rescinded.