Starting Friday, Campfires Will Be Banned in the Thompson-Okanagan

Starting on Friday, there will be no campfires allowed throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

The ban starts at noon on Friday, July 3rd and will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified. The Kamloops Fire Centre includes the Thompson-Okanagan region and most of the Southern Interior. All open fires, including campfires, are being prohibited to help prevent human-caused wildfires, as the fire danger is currently “high” throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre with some areas rated as “extreme”.

“With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have displayed aggressive behaviour and have required additional firefighting resources,” reads the ban. “Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires.”

The ban applies to campfires as well as open fires of any size, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns, and burning barrels. However, the prohibition doesn’t apply to devices like cooking stoves that use gas, propane, or briquettes or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid fuel, or gaseous fuels, as long as the flame height is less than 15 cm.

The ban covers BC Parks, Crown lands, and private lands, but it doesn’t apply within local government boundaries that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Check with your local government authorities for other restrictions before you light a fire.

A campfire ban has been announced in the Central Okanagan, also starting at noon on Friday, July 3rd. This ban is in the earliest in recent memory, and about a week and half earlier than in 2014. The Regional District is also reminding that local bylaws prohibit fireworks at any time in most areas of the Central Okanagan. Fireworks in the District of Lake Country and City of West Kelowna have to be approved in writing by the fire chief.

Area affected by the Kamloops Fire Centre campfire ban. (Photo Credit: BC Wildfire)

If you’re found not following an open burning prohibition, you can be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administration penalty of $10,0000, or if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If your contravention of the ban causes or contributes to a wildfire, you could be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

You can report wildfires or open burning violations by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell phone.

A campfire ban has also been announced for the Southeast Fire Centre, and Category 2 and 3 fires will be prohibited in the Cariboo Fire Centre starting at noon on Thursday.