Open-burning ban will be expanded as of June 15

NEWS — The open-burning ban in effect in the Kamloops Fire Centre will be expanded to include the Salmon Arm and Clearwater fire zones.

The expanded ban will take effect Sunday, June 15.

The prohibition will remain in place in the Clearwater Fire Zone and Salmon Arm Fire Zone for elevations above 1,200 metres until Sept. 15. For all other elevations in those zones, it will be in place until Oct. 1.

The ban will remain in place in the Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones until Oct. 15 or until the public is informed otherwise.

A map of the affected areas is available online at: http://bit.ly/1mkOXtb.

The open-fire prohibition applies specifically to the burning of any waste, slash or other materials; the burning of stubble or grass; and the use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels of any size or description.

It 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.

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.