Open Burning Ban Ending

By Corey Fischer

Sep 18, 2018 | 1:11 PM

Provincial officials are ready to loosen burning restrictions in the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Effective at noon Wednesday, open burning will be allowed throughout the Centre, including the use of fireworks, sky lanterns, burn barrels, burn cages, binary exploding targets and tiki torches.

The BC Wildfire Service says a number of factors have been considered in making the move including the weather forecast calling for cooler temperatures, higher humidity and substantial precipitation.

Jody Lucius of the Wildfire Service says another factor is the reduced fire danger.

“There is one small pocket of moderate fire danger within the Fire Centre. That’s down south of Penticton in the Osoyoos area. The rest of the fire centre is low to very low,” Lucius told Beach Radio News.

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Lucius says there are 51 fires burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre as of today, with 429 since April 1.

There are 370 active fires around the province, with 2,067 this season.

“Local governments may still have their own burning restrictions in place, so people should always check with local authorities before lighting any fire of any size. They should use caution and be aware of local conditions that might impact their ability to burn safely and control their open fires,” says the Service.

Anyone lighting a larger Category 3 fire must first obtain a burn registration number by calling 1 888 797-1717.

A Category 3 fire is a fire that burns material more than two metres high or three metres wide, or stubble or grass over 2,000 square metres, or more than two piles of any size.

by Corey Fischer