What campfire ban? B.C. police fine partiers

KAMLOOPS, B.C. Officials are aghast that some people are still ignoring campfire restrictions in British Columbia as wildfires fuelled by hot, dry and gusty conditions continue to plague the province.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau said Friday that three men who appeared “totally oblivious to the wildfire danger” were slapped with a $1,150 fine Thursday evening after being caught drinking around a campfire by Kalamalka Lake near Vernon.

“Winds were gusty and small embers were gently flying from the campfire,” she said, adding the local fire department was brought in to ensure the fire was out and wouldn’t spread.

With no sight of rain in the forecast to bring reprieve, officials are reminding the public to stay up-todate and adhere to park and campfire bans.

They also want people to be careful with discarded cigarettes and remember even hot engines and tailpipes taken off-roading could spark a fire.

Wildfire service chief information officer Kevin Skrepnek said a dozen new fires broke out Thursday, in line with a daily trend over the past week that could get worse.

“Thankfully none of those fires have materialized to anything of major concern,” he said. “To be perfectly honest, the fact that we’re only getting 10 to 15 new fires is somewhat surprising given how volatile it is out there."

Conditions prompted the expansion of an evacuation order for some homes in a remote area west of Quesnel late Thursday.