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July 06, 2017 - 12:29 PM
KELOWNA – The extreme fire hazard in the Central Okanagan has forced the Regional District to ban campfires.
The Central Okanagan Regional District says the ban will begin at noon tomorrow, July 7, and will remain in effect until further notice.
“As a result of the extremely dry conditions and extended period of hot, dry weather that has boosted the fire danger rating to extreme, local fire chiefs have decided to implement the total ban on campfires within all local government fire jurisdictions in the Regional District of Central Okanagan,” officials says.
The ban covers the City of West Kelowna, District of Lake Country, District of Peachland, Westbank First Nation, and the Central Okanagan East and West Electoral Areas, according to a media release. Campfires are not permitted at any time within the City of Kelowna.
The Distrstict says violators could be fined and even charged with the cost of the fire department response. If you see someone illegally burning you are urged to call the Regional Fire Dispatch Centre at 250-469-8577.
Smoking materials should be carefully snuffed out before disposal and motorists are reminded not to toss cigarettes or other smoking materials from their vehicle, the District advises.
Smoking is not allowed in any regional park or municipal park, and is also prohibited in children’s play areas, sports fields, undeveloped parks and wilderness trails in Peachland.
The province has yet to implement a campfire ban in B.C. Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Max Birkner says that could change.
"There's no campfire ban as of right now, it is of course being evaluated every day," Birkner says.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017