Campfire ban in Thompson-Okanagan to be lifted

There's good news for anyone planning on going camping this weekend as the campfire ban will soon be lifted.

The BC Wildfire Service says the campfire ban will be rescinded as of 12 p.m. Friday, June 16.

"As a result of favourable weather over the last week and cooler conditions forecast in the coming days, Category 1 campfires will again be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre," a media release states.

The Kamloops Fire Centre covers the Thompson-Okanagan and other surrounding areas.

A campfire can be half a metre in width with flames no higher than half a metre high.

Larger Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited until October.

The campfire ban was brought in, June 8, following unseasonably hot and dry weather.

While the campfire ban will soon be lifted, fireworks and sky lanterns, binary exploding targets and air curtain burners are still prohibited. Burn barrels or burn cages are also still banned except when used for a Category 1 campfire.

The restrictions apply to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction unless a local government bylaw overrides it.

Being in contravention of an open burning prohibition can be costly, with fines going up to $100,000 and include a year in jail.

For more information about campfires and open burning go here.

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