There will be no campfire ban across the Kamloops Fire Centre ahead of the May long weekend.
This despite the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s 1th-hour email asking the BC Wildfire Service to bring in a ban, because of dry conditions in the area.
“If you look at the numbers right now and you look at the relative humidity, it is incredibly dry in the Okanagan as well,” Barriere Mayor, Ward Stamer, who was pushing for the ban said. “I’m just thinking that if I was looking at this data and looking at what is going on on the ground, I would think those conditions are high to extreme, if not extreme.”
“The comment that I heard on the radio when [the Wildfire Service said the fire danger rating was] moderate to high is incorrect.”
Friday afternoon, the BC Wildfire Service put out a statement urging people across the Kamloops Fire Centre to be careful and vigilant if they light campfires or go into the back country over the long weekend.
That includes keeping all campfires to 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide with a proper fireguard around it, to not light campfires if its windy, to ensure fires are extinguished completely before you leave the area or go to sleep.
“BC Wildfire Service evaluates the requirement for prohibitions, including campfire bans, on a daily basis,” the statement said. “Campfire prohibitions will be enacted based on the evaluation of scientifically supported considerations.”
It says those considerations include the risk to public safety, the current and forecasted weather trends, relative humidity, the Build up indices (BUI) threshold value, current and predicted fire load and fire behavior, and the availability of resources to fight fires.
As of publishing, the Prince George Fire Centre was the only one in B.C. with a campfire ban, that came into effect at noon today, May 19.
A ban on larger Category 2 and Category 3 fires has been in place across the Kamloops Fire Centre since noon on Thursday, May 18. The use of fireworks, sky lanterns, binary exploding targets, burn barrels and burn cages, and air curtain burners are also restricted.
“Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from naturally caused fires,” the statement added. “Always practice safe, responsible open fire use.”
As always people can report wildfires, unattended campfires, or open burning violation by calling 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.
For the latest on provincial bans or restrictions, go here. For the Fire Danger Rating across B.C., go here.
