Open burning ban extended for Kamloops and Okanagan

Open burning ban has been continued for in high smoke sensitivity areas of British Columbia including the Thompson and Okanagan valleys.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy announced today, April 14, an extension of the March 26 open burning restriction for all high smoke sensitivity areas of the province will continue until Monday, June 15. 

The restrictions does not apply to campfires.

The ministry said in a release that the extended restriction period is intended to help reduce excess air pollution in populated areas across the province.

The reduction in air pollution is particularly required as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the province, the ministry said. Deterioration in air quality could lead to more and severe cases of the COVID-19 infection in B.C. residents.

The ministry said restrictions will be evaluated daily which may result in changes to the size of the areas in which they apply.

For more on the open burning restrictions, go here.

An open burning ban for smoke sensitive areas (shown in yellow) is now in effect until June 15, 2020. | Credit: SUBMITTED /Ministry of Environment and Climate Change


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories