Open Fires Banned

BC Ministry of Forests Press Release

Effective at noon on May 30, 2005, and until further notice, small pile burning, backyard burning and industrial pile burning (Categories 1, 2 and 3) are banned at all elevations throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. This open fire ban does not include campfires used for personal cooking, warmth or light.

This open fire ban is in effect to protect public safety and to limit the risk of person-caused wildfires.

A ban on small pile burning (Category 1) prohibits the use of open fires that burn piled material less than 1 metre high and 1 metre wide, with the exception of campfires. Campfires are still allowed.

A backyard burning ban (Category 2) prohibits the use of open fires that burn waste material in piles less than two meters high and three meters wide. This ban also prohibits grass burning over an area less than 0.2 ha in size.

An industrial pile burning ban (Category 3) prohibits the use of open fires that burn material in piles over two meters high and three meters wide. This ban also prohibits burning of windrows and stubble in an area over 0.2 ha in size.

Bans on small pile burning, backyard burning and industrial pile burning apply to all lands outside of municipal boundaries and Regional Districts that have open fire bylaws. Please check with your local authorities before lighting a fire within municipal boundaries.

Current weather data determines that British Columbia is not in a drought emergency however, snow pack levels and preliminary forecasts for southern B.C. indicate that spring fires may start earlier than last year.

The main cause of wildfires during the spring months is human activity, and therefore preventable. In the past month, there have been 12 new fires burning a total of 325 hectares. All of these were human-caused and nearly all of them started from open burning and grass fire escapes. With the increased risk of unwanted fires starting, the BC Forest Service is asking anyone conducting open burning to use extra caution and ensure that the required and recommended safety measures are being taken.