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Vernon  

Fire starters ignore ban

Despite a complete fire ban being in place since Friday, people are still lighting up.

On Monday evening, Vernon Fire Rescue responded to two calls of campfires said assistant fire chief Lawrie Skolrood.

With the fire hazard rating hovering between high and extreme in some areas, a fire ban on the entire Kamloops Fire District, which includes the Okanagan, came into effect July 3.

Skolrood said he is unsure if the people who started the campfires – who were on their own property – were aware a ban is in place.

“In both cases, fire crews extinguished the fires,” said Skolrood, adding one of the fires was found to be unsupervised.

“It is a concern. Any campfire at this time of year is a concern for us,” he said Tuesday. “It doesn't take anything to start a fire right now. We hope people understand it's for everybody's safety we are doing this.”

Fines of more than $300 are possible for anyone found with a campfire.



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