The BC Wildfire Service is asking people to avoid any open burning today and tomorrow because of strong winds in the Kamloops area.
Winds are expected to reach as high as 60 km/hr at times today. It is expected to remain moderate to strong through the night before gradually easing up tomorrow.
“[We are] urging members of the public and industry personnel to exercise extreme caution when conducting any outdoor burning and consider postponing burning if feasible,” a statement said. “Wind can cause grass fires to spread very quickly.”
If you’re unable to delay your open burning, the Wildfire Service is asking people to ensure they take precautions to ensure it does not spread.
“It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that burning is done in a safe manner and is in accordance with regulations,” the statement added. “Before lighting any fire, it is advised to monitor the upcoming weather forecast and check with your local governments to see if any local burning restrictions are in place.”
Some of those precautions include building a fire guard and clearing the site of any twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material. People are also being told to never leave a fire unattended and to ensure the fire is cold to the touch before leaving the area.
As it stands, there are no fire bans or restrictions anywhere in B.C., though the fire danger rating has been gradually increasing because of hot and dry conditions, particularly in the southern part of the province.
In some cases, you’ll need to get a burn registration number ahead of time by calling 1-888-797-1717. More details can be found here and here.
To report a wildfire, an unattended campfire, or an open burning violation, you’re asked to call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a cell phone.