Want a $1 million fine and spend three years in jail? The answer is probably no and a person can avoid these problems by obeying the fire ban on all camp fires in this region.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Management Branch
August 15, 2013 - 3:33 PM
PENTICTON - There are plenty of things to burn despite all the rain that came down.
A temporary fire ban was just stretched to cover this weekend. No open fires will be allowed anywhere in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen including camp fires, fireworks and burning materials in barrels.
"Some people might see a little rain and think there's no danger in having a small fire," emergency supervisor Dale Kronebusch said. "It is still tinderbox dry right now."
Out of the 150 fires currently cooking the Kamloops Fire Centre region, 11 were caused by people. Fire wardens, natural resource officers and conservation officers have said residents and visitors are not getting the message.
The cash consequences for having a campfire or lighting fireworks include a $345 ticket for each person at a campfire site and a $230 violation ticket for all people participating in lighting fireworks.
If a campfire or a firework causes a wildfire the person or persons could be fined up to $1 million, face three years in prison and on top of the $1 million be required to pay for suppression costs.
If a person sees a wildfire or a prohibited campfire they should call *5555 on a cell phone or call 1-800-663-5555.
To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1
News from © iNFOnews, 2013