Be prepared with proper permits and water or shovels to prevent the fire from spreading if you plan on any open burning this fall.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 29, 2014 - 12:10 PM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fall does not just mean sweater weather, it also means open fires are again allowed throughout the region as temperatures continue to drop.
Open fires will be allowed in the Salmon Arm Fire Zone as of Wednesday, Oct. 1. The ban was lifted for the Clearwater Fire Zone on Sept. 15.
B.C. Wildfire says a decreased risk of wildfires means fires can be allowed in certain areas, but notes the rescinding applies only to B.C. Parks, Crown lands and private lands. Areas within local governments are regulated by those fire departments. The remainder of the fire centre will stay under prohibition until Oct. 15.
The City of Kamloops also lifted a burn ban this past weekend while Kelowna and the Regional District of Central Okanagan will allow open fires as of Oct. 1. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen and Penticton will allow open fires as of Oct. 15, along with the rest of the Kamloops Fire Centre.
People wishing to have an open fire must still have all necessary permits and be able to prevent the fire from spreading.
Open fires include the burning of waste, slash and other materials as well as stubble or grass. Fireworks, sky lanterns and burning barrels also fall under the open fire category.
A five-week-long campfire ban was lifted Aug. 21.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire
News from © iNFOnews, 2014