The Southern Interior will soon join two other B.C. regions in having earlier-than-normal fire bans.
On Wednesday, the BC Wildfire Service announced that Category 3 fires will soon be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.
The ban will begin on Friday, May 3 at noon, and will be in effect until Oct. 11, or until it’s rescinded.
“This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety,” said BCWS.
A Category 3 fire is a large fire consisting of either big piles of brush or stubble or grass that exceeds 0.2 of a hectare (half an acre).
The prohibition applies to all public and private lands throughout the region, unless specified by local government.
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In 2022, Category 3 fires were banned in the Southern Interior on June 30. And last year, open burning bans began on May 18.
Last month, Category 2 and 3 open fires were banned in the Prince George and Cariboo fire centres.
Also, the Northwest Fire Centre has banned Category 2 and 3 fires in the Bulkley and Nadina fire zones.
A Category 2 open fire is a pile of material that does not exceed two metres in height and three metres in width, or grass or stubble that does not exceed 0.2 of a hectare.
Category 1 fires, commonly called campfires, are still allowed throughout the province.
However, given the province’s current drought conditions, it’s likely it won’t be long before a campfire ban is announced.
The government says “the decision when or where to implement a fire ban is made by the regional fire centres depending on local fire hazards or dangers, the type of weather conditions forecasted and the type and level of fire activity occurring.”
More information about open burning is available online as is information on fire bans and restrictions.
Earlier this week, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District said some area firefighters were called out during the weekend to assist with open burning activities that got away from property owners.
“Conditions are already very dry,” said the CSRD, “and it can be easy for a fire to get out of control.”
Also Wednesday, the City of Enderby said it will also enact a Category 3 fire ban on May 3, in conjunction with BC Wildfire’s ban.
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