Campfire ban coming as records fall

NEWS — A return to record-breaking temperatures Tuesday will be followed by a campfire ban throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre at noon Wednesday.

The Kamloops Fire Centre announced the ban today (Monday).

Temperatures on Sunday reached 40.3C in Kamloops as a heatwave pushed readings higher on that date then they’ve been since 1961, when it was 39.4C.

Sunday’s scorcher didn’t quite reach the all-time high for Kamloops, though — 41C on July 19, 1944.

“There are a number of communities where they’re setting records,” said Allan Coldwells, Environment Canada meteorologist. “Kamloops doesn’t come to the 40-degree level all that often.”

Lytton was the warmest spot in Canada on Sunday at 41C, but that’s a routine distinction in the Fraser Canyon community. Kelowna had the warmest July 13 since 1955.

Overcast skies brought some relief today (Monday) — it was still 8C above normal — but temperatures through the rest of the week are expected to climb back to the high 30s.

“Tuesday and Wednesday, we are looking at temperatures of about 39C. Even at 39, we’ll break records.”

The combination of heat and dry lightning in some locations has provincial wildfire staff on alert. Although the nearest large wildfire was near Vernon and there were no significant blazes in the Kamloops area, conditions were edging toward extreme. Larger blazes in northern B.C. were producing a smoky haze in those regions.

“We’re seeing some really high fire-hazard ratings with the extremely high temperatures,”said Melissa Klassen, fire information officer. Kamloops hasn’t seen any lightning track through the area since the heatwave began but Merritt and Penticton have, she added.

At 107 ha, the Vernon blaze was burning in a remote area.

“One interesting note, it’s burning into the alpine and there’s still snow on the ground,” Klassen said.

The wildfire management branch brought in 21 out-of-province personnel on Sunday as B.C. heats up. Fire danger ratings in the province are currently ranked moderate to high, with many pockets of extreme. Open burning is already prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

City water consumption always goes up during summer hot spells, but it’s not going up as much as it once did, said Mike Firlotte, water works manager.

“Even our hot weather water use is the same as the regular water use was a few years ago,” Firlotte said.

Until 2006-2007, typical water use on a hot day reached 140 million to 150 million litres per day. On Sunday, it reached 115 million litres. Firlotte credits greater public awareness and more efficient fixtures, hand in hand with water metering, for the drop.