Smoking ban begins in all Kamloops parks and trails

KAMLOOPS – Due to extreme fire hazard conditions smoking is now prohibited in all city parks and trails effective immediately.

The ban, under the authority of the Kamloops Fire Chief, comes as the fire risk reaches an extreme level throughout much of the region. The ban includes, but is not limited to, Kenna Cartwright Park, Peterson Creek Park, Kamloops Bike Ranch, Mission Flats Park, Rose Hill Park, Rivers Trail, Valleyview Nature Park, Dallas Barnhartvale Nature Park and West Highlands Park.

Violators of the ban may be fined a minimum of $500 and if convicted may be held responsible for all potential costs incurred for controlling and extinguishing a fire.

Despite an improvement in the short term forecast, the fire hazard rating is not expected to improve and the smoking prohibition will remain into effect until further notice.

Kamloops Fire and Rescue will be monitoring the fire hazard rating on an ongoing basis in cooperation with City of Kamloops Parks staff and the B.C. Wildfire Service.

The public is reminded to exercise extreme vigilance with proper disposal of smoking materials anywhere in Kamloops.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.