Kamloops firefighters say they tend to respond to one interface fire a week on average during the summer months in the city.

That’s according to Assistant Fire Chief Dan Sutherland, who says most of these fires are brought under control before it can get too big.

Sutherland says crews can average about 40 such fires in Kamloops a year.

“So we do have interface fires in the city of Kamloops. The big challenge with us is we go to them almost on a weekly basis but again the challenge is we need to make sure we minimize the risk so we go as little of those as possible.”

He adds crews have been dealing with extreme conditions now for several years.

“BC Wildfire Service, Kamloops Fire and Rescue we’re struggling to get a handle on these things. It’s about being proactive to minimize the risk to our community. We just did a hazard risk and vulnerability analysis, and one of the greatest risks to our community is interface fires.”

Sutherland wants people to be very careful around open fires, noting that wood burning fires outside are banned within city limits, with a $500 fine for violations.

He notes crews also respond to about one burning violation call each week on average, and Sutherland is hoping to bring that to zero as quickly as possible.