Wildfire risk: Plan ahead, be prepared

May 15, 2025 | 12:41 PM

With the Victoria Day long weekend coming up, residents and travelers are urged to stay safe and be FireSmart.

The province is reminding the public that most wildfires are preventable, and are calling on people to be careful with fires and stay updated on current conditions, road closures, and evacuation alerts.

There’s a summer-long Category 3 open burning ban in the Kamloops Fire Centre which includes the entire Okanagan.

For real-time updates, use the BC Wildfire Service app or call *5555 to report wildfires.

In a media release, the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness offered a list of advice covering many different aspects of being prepared for potential dangers.

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They include safeguarding property by clearing away dry leaves, for example.

For those venturing into the backcountry, it is important to remember the three Ts: trip planning, training and taking the essentials.

And for motorists, the key message is that roads will be busier than usual and everyone should allow more time to get to their destination and plan breaks at rest areas.

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by Vernon Matters Staff

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