Campfire ban now in effect

The Central Okanagan regional district has imposed a campÀre ban,which went into effect at noon on Thursday.

The Kamloops Fire Centre on Tuesday announced a ban to begin at the same time on Crown lands.

The Okanagan is part of the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Typically, local governments follow suit once the fire centre ban is announced. The ban includes all municipalities within the district.

Fire ofÀcials warned it was coming. The BC WildÀre Service says hot and dry conditions are expected to continue into next week and Àre danger ratings, now moderate or high, will only increase.

The Àre centre ban prohibits Àreworks (including Àrecrackers), sky lanterns, burn barrels or burn cages, binary exploding targets (pre-packaged or homemade explosives), tiki and similar kinds of torches, outdoor stoves and other portable campÀre apparatuses that are not CSAapproved or ULC-approved

The prohibitions do not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campÀre apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the Áame is less than 15 centimetres.

Anyone found in contravention of an open Àre prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150. Anyone who contributes to a wildÀre may be ordered to pay all ÀreÀghting and associated costs.