With dry and hot weather in the forecast for most of the BC Interior, the BC Wildfire Service has announced that all campfires will be banned starting this week.
The ban goes into effect at noon on Thursday, June 8.
A release says the ban will stretch across the Kamloops Fire Centre to prevent human-caused wildfire and to protect public safety.
The ban will remain in place until Oct. 13 or until the order is rescinded.
Campfires are classified as category one fires. On May 18, the province banned category two and three fires.
In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:
Fireworks
Sky Lanterns
Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
Binary Exploding Targets
Air curtain burners
Tiki and similar kind of torches
Chimineas
“This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves,” says the BCWS.
“As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.”
These restrictions apply to all public and private lands across the Kamloops fire Center.
Anyone found breaching the open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 and may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000.
If convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.
If the breach causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
To learn more about open burning and all existing restrictions, click here.
