The BC Wildfire Service says its crews were busy stomping out smoldering campfires in the Kamloops area on the weekend.

Fire information officer Taylor MacDonald says fire wardens found and extinguished 32 abandoned campfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre alone.

“This is the first time in a couple years that we have not had a campfire ban in place at this time in the Kamloops Fire Centre. So it is unusual for this time of year in that sense,” MacDonald says.

“And abandoned campfires can start wildfires, so these sort of incidents are definitely preventable. So just making sure, a gentle reminder to everyone, that if the ashes from a campfire are not cold to the touch before you leave it, the campfire has not been fully extinguished. And that’s a really important piece for people to remember.”

MacDonald says someone who abandons a campfire could also be fined $1,150 and pay the cost of fighting a wildfire if one starts as a result.

The BCWS is expecting above-normal fire conditions in the Kamloops area for the rest of summer, however there is no plan at this point for any campfire ban to be brought in.