Image Credit: BC Wildfire Service

By Victor Kaisar

Fire Ban

Category 3 fire ban coming to Kamloops Fire Centre this Friday

May 12, 2025 | 5:33 PM

KAMLOOPS — The BC Wildfire Service will be implementing a fire ban across the Kamloops Fire Centre just in time for the May long weekend, even as much of the fire activity remains in the northeastern corner of the province.

The ban on all Category 3 open fires will come into effect at 12:00 p.m. this Friday (May 16) “to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.” It is set to remain in place until Oct. 17, unless it is rescinded earlier should conditions improve.

“Anyone conducting Category 3 open fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction must extinguish those fires by the May 16 deadline,” the BC Wildfire Service said in a statement.

“This prohibition does not ban Category 1 campfires or Category 2 open fires.”

Category 3 fires include all fires larger than two metres high by three metres wide. It also includes one or more concurrently burning piles no larger than two metres high by three metres wide, one or more windrows not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width, or stubble or grass burning over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares.

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This Category 3 fire ban applies to all areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre outside of municipal boundaries. That includes provincial parks, recreation sites, and trails; ecological reserves; wildlife management areas; and private managed forest land.

“Municipalities often follow BC Wildfire Service prohibitions or may impose different prohibitions based on conditions in their local area,” the BC Wildfire Service said, as it urged people to check for any local restrictions that may in place before doing any burning.

Image credit: BC Wildfire Service

A ban on Category 2 and 3 open fires is already in place for the Cariboo Fire Centre, which includes the 100 Mile House Forest District, the Quesnel Forest District, and the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District.

People found in violation of the bans may be issued a ticket for $1,150, and be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000. If convicted in court, people could be also be fined up to $100,000, and/or spend up to one year in jail.

People who are found to be responsible for a fire may also be required to pay all firefighting and other associated costs.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone.

For the latest on fire bans and restrictions, go here.