Current and forecasted hot and dry weather conditions mean that the burning prohibition will be expanded to include the entire Kamloops Fire Centre.

The fire-danger rating ranges from “moderate” to “high”, with some areas already rated “extreme”.

Since April 1, Kamloops Fire Centre crews have responded to 26 wildfire incidents. All of these fires were human-caused and therefore preventable. This prohibition is intended to reduce the risk of wildfire throughout the region.

Anyone conducting Category 2 or 3 fires anywhere in the Kamloops Fire Centre must extinguish any such fires by noon on Friday, May 15, 2015. This prohibition will remain in effect until Oct. 15, 2015 or until further notice.

A map of the affected areas is available online at:

Specifically, prohibited activities include:

• The burning of any waste, slash or other materials (piled or unpiled) at a size 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.

This prohibition does not ban campfires 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.

This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but it 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. Before lighting any fire, residents should check with local authorities regarding any current prohibitions.