Category two, three fires banned in Kamloops Fire Centre starting on Thursday

After a hot spell brought temperatures in the 30s to the BC Interior, a couple fire restrictions are coming into effect in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

The BC Wildfire Service says category two and three open fires will be banned starting at noon on Thursday, May 18.

“This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety,” says a release

The ban will remain in place until Oct. 13 or until the order is rescinded.

As of May 18, the following activities are prohibited:

• Category two open fires means an open fire, other than a category one campfire, that

  • burns material in one pile not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width,

  • burns material concurrently in two piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width, or

  • burns stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 ha.

• Category three open fires mean an open fire that burns:

  • material concurrently in three or more piles each not exceeding two metres in height and three metres in width,

  • material in one or more piles each exceeding two metres in height or three metres in width,

  • one or more windrows, each not exceeding 200 m in length or 15 m in width,

  • stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 ha.

Things like fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description and air curtain burners are also prohibited under this fire ban.

This prohibition does not ban category one campfires that are a half-metre high by a high-metre wide or smaller and does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes.

Anyone found in contravention of an 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 contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.a