Fire prevention measures take hold May 15 through most of the Kamloops Fire Centre in the forest.

(Burning of orchard material in the valley bottom was to cease April 15th according to local fire officials)

The burning bans are aimed at preventing human-caused wildfires and apply to all of the fire centre except the Clearwater fire zone and the Salmon Arm fire zone.

Prohibited activities include:

• Burning of waste, slash (piled or unpiled) larger than one-half metre by one-half metre.
• The burning of more than two open fires of any size at the same time.
• Stubble or grass fires of any size over any area.
• The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description
• Campfires not banned that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide (or smaller) and

Does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

The prohibition covers all B.C. parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws in place and is serviced by a fire department.

The Kamloops fire centre includes Clearwater, Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet and all areas in between.

“Since April 1, Kamloops Fire Centre crews have responded to 12 wildfire incidents covering more than 129 hectares,” fire information officer Kayla Pepper said in a release. ” Many of these wildfires resulted from poorly planned open burning.”

Above-average temperatures and an early drying trend have increased the wildfire risk, so residents are urged to use extra caution with any open burning.