Despite a recent drop in temperature and rainfall, the Kamloops Fire Centre still has the highest risk of wildfire in the province.
The fire danger rating is low to moderate, with areas of high, which is the highest of any region in British Columbia.
The Southeast Fire Centre and Coastal Fire Centre have more wildfires of note, but Fire Information Officer Kayla Pepper said the Testalinden Creek Fire near Oliver is still the most active blaze in B.C.
The Testalinden Creek Fire is 80 per cent contained and is burning at 4,506 hectares in size.
Recent rain has not been widespread across the region and instead is falling in certain areas at a time.
“Our fire of note is the most active I would say. Most of the other ones are in mop up or patrol,” Pepper said. We aren’t getting precipitation around the entire fire centre. The South Okanagan hasn’t received that precipitation and same with areas west of Lillooet. There are still dry pockets within the fire centre, and those areas will continue to be a concern.”
New wildfire activity has decreased. There was only one new wildfire over the Labour Day long weekend.
The blaze broke out at Cooney Bay on Kamloops Lake and grew to 0.4 hectares in size.
The biggest issue the Kamloops Fire Centre is facing is with open fires, which are still banned. The campfire ban has been lifted, but fire crews have received reports of people who are beginning to start open burning.
“With the current wildfire hazard, if people start open burning that’s when we often see person caused wildfires on the shoulder sides of fire season,” Pepper said. “While we do encourage people to clean up their yards, open burning is still illegal and those fires could escape. Campfires are still allowed. They are smaller and contained, but when we see the larger backyard burning, that is still a concern.”
Anyone found in violation of the open burning ban will be issued a $345 fine, and could be held responsible for fire suppression costs if the open fire escapes.
Campfires must remain a half-metre tall by a half-metre wide. Anything larger in size is considered an open fire.
The campfire ban is reassessed by wildfire crews twice per week and could be put back in place if the weather, along with human activity, raises the risk of new wildfires.
“That will depend on a couple of things. We certainly do look at human activity and patterns of person caused wildfire starts. We also look at the weather conditions, so right now given the current conditions that we’re having, we’ve assessed we can permit campfires again provided they stay within that half-metre by half-metre in size,” Pepper said.
To report open burning violation or a new wildfire, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cellphone.
