Open-fire ban to be lifted Monday in Clearwater zone

NEWS/ WILDFIRES — The ban on open fires will be lifted from some parts of the Kamloops Fire Centre region next week.

Effective at noon on Monday, Sept. 15, open fires will be permitted in the entire Clearwater Fire Zone and areas above 1,200 metres in the Salmon Arm Fire Zone within the Kamloops Fire Centre, due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

All fires larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide remain prohibited in the rest of the Kamloops Fire Centre until Oct. 15, or until the public is otherwise notified.

The partial rescinding of the open fire prohibition applies to all B.C. Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by fire departments. The B.C. Wildfire Management Branch advises people to check with civic authorities for any local restrictions before lighting a fire.

“Anyone who lights a fire must have sufficient personnel, water and tools on hand to prevent the fire from escaping,” the Branch said.

Anyone lighting a Category 3 fire must first get a burn registration number by calling 1-888-797-1717 and must comply with air quality control legislation. A Category 3 fire is a fire that burns material piled more than two metres in height or three metres in width; or stubble or grass over more than 0.2 hectares; or more than two piles of any size.

The Kamloops Fire Centre stretches from the northern border of Wells Gray Park near Blue River to the U.S.A. border in the south, and from the Bridge River Glacier west of Gold Bridge to the Monashee Mountains east of Lumby.