We almost made it all summer without a campfire ban.
Unfortunately, one will be implemented for the Kamloops Fire Centre just ahead of the Labour Day long weekend.
That means campfires will be banned throughout the Thompson-Okanagan and many surrounding areas starting at noon on Thursday, Aug. 28, until mid-October or otherwise rescinded.
A map of the affected area is available here.
A campfire, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) explains, is defined as any fire no larger than 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide used by any person for recreational purposes.
They’re considered Category 1 fires, with larger Category 2 and Category 3 fires already having been banned most of the summer.
A Category 1 fire prohibition also means the following activities and equipment are restricted until further notice:
The prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves, the BCWS says.
Any CSA- or ULC-rated outdoor stoves used for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel is still permitted with a flame height of less than 15 centimetres.
“Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province. The BC government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously,” a BCWS release noted.
“Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires.”
Anyone found in contravention of the campfire ban can be issued a $1,150 ticket, be required to pay a penalty of up to $10,000 or potentially face much more significant penalties in court.
If the contravention leads to a wildfire starting, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
