A lack of rain and high heat through July has prompted the BC Wildfire Service to bring in a total campfire ban throughout the Kamloops Fire Center as of Thursday.

Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, August 4, 2022, campfires, will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. pic.twitter.com/L2xA9kuhC2

— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 1, 2022

The BC Wildfire Service says the campfire ban will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 15, 2022, or until the orders are rescinded.

 

“The Kamloops Fire Centre is currently experiencing hot and dry conditions and fire danger ratings are generally “high” or “extreme” throughout the fire centre,” said the BC Wildfire Service. 

As such, come Thursday at noon, virtually all outdoor campfires will be restricted.

• Campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;
• Fireworks;
• Sky Lanterns;
• Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description;
• Binary Exploding Targets;
• Tiki and similar kind of torches; and,
• Chimineas, outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses not CSA or ULC approved.

 “Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province,” noted the BC Wildfire Service in its notification.  “The B.C. government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously.”