The BC Wildfire Service is banning Category 2 and 3 fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre, as of noon today.

Those categories include burn piles, burn barrels and fireworks.

That decision was made last week and it comes into effect as the Kamloops area is in the middle of a heat wave.

“With this hot weather that we’re experiencing right now, the fuels in our forest are beginning to dry out. And that’s why we’re seeing an increase in our danger rating,” fire information officer Madison Smith says.

Smith says campfires are still allowed and there’s no plan yet to bring in a ban, although she points out those plans can change in just a few days.

“So if you are planning to ignite a campfire, make sure it’s fully extinguished before leaving the site. As well, don’t burn in windy conditions. Just because the wind can move sparks to a different area and ignite different fuels.”

As of noon on Tuesday, the fire danger rating was “high” for most of southern B.C., with an “extreme” fire risk in parts of the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Southeast Fire Centre.