Campfires banned in Okanagan, Kamloops on Thursday

In an effort to prevent human-caused wildfires, the BC Wildfire Service is banning campfires throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre on Thursday, just in time for the Labour Day long weekend.

As of noon, Thursday, Aug. 28, campfires will be prohibited on all public and private lands in the jurisdiction, according to a BC Wildfire media release.

The campfire prohibition will remain in place until noon, Oct. 17.

The Kamloops Fire Centre covers an area from Blue River in the north to the U.S. boarder in the south, and from Bridge River in the west to the Monashee Mountains in the east. It includes the communities of Kamloops, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

All open fires are included in the ban along with air curtain burners, carbonizers, binary exploding targets, fireworks, burn barrels or burn cages, controlled air incinerators, sky lanterns, and wood-fired hot tubs, wood-fired pizza ovens and other wood-fired devices unless they’re vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building.

The wildfire service recommends the public check with local governments to see what other burning restrictions might be in effect.

The ban doesn’t cover CSA-rates or ULC-rated outdoor stoves for cooking, heat or ambiance that burn charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, as long as the flame height that is less than 15 centimetres tall.

If you’re caught with a campfire, a ticket is $1,150 and you may face an administrative penalty of up to $10,000. If convicted in court, the fine is up to $100,000 and a possible sentence of up to a 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,” the wildfire service said in the release.

For the latest on wildfire activity, along with fire bans and restrictions go here.

To report a wildfire, or unattended campfire or open burning violation call 1-800 663-5555 or *5555 from a cell phone.