Fire Ban to be Rescinded
EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2024
Effective from 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, all Category 1 campfires will be permitted in the Kamloops Fire Centre, including the areas in and around the City of Merritt. VIEW MAP (The Category 2 & 3 Fire Ban remains in effect in the Kamloops Fire Centre until October 11, 2024 or until rescinded).
At this same time, all small confined fire permits within the City of Merritt will be reinstated. Category 1 campfires are allowed in the City of Merritt, but residents must have a permit, according to the City of Merritt’s Fire And Safety Regulations, Bylaw 2272. Residents must also renew their permit at the end of every calendar year.
Also note that the use of tiki torches, sky lanterns, and burning barrels, while permitted in the Kamloops Fire District, are prohibited within the City of Merritt. Any non-CSA-approved fire apparatus is also prohibited.
The City of Merritt does not ever allow Category 2 and 3 open fires (not exceeding 2 meters in height) at any time. Only small confined fires (not exceeding 0.5 meters in height) are allowed with a permit.
While the Kamloops Fire Centre may allow fireworks when Category 2 restrictions are permitted, the City of Merritt Fire Safety Bylaw, Section 9.3, states “No Fireworks may be offered for sale or used except between the dates of October 16 and November 1st in each year. The sale or use of fireworks outside these days may be permitted with the written authorization of the Fire Chief.”
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Merritt Fire/Rescue Department for more information.
Fire Ban in Effect
FIREBAN EFFECTIVE JULY 9 TO AUGUST 28, 2024
Effective from 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, July 12, 2024, all Category 1 campfires are prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre, including the areas in and around the City of Merritt. VIEW MAP (This is in addition to the Category 2 & 3 Fire Ban already in effect). This campfire prohibition will help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety, and will remain in effect until rescinded August 28, 2024.
At this same time, all small confined fire permits within the City of Merritt are rescinded until the ban ends. (Effective at noon on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, small confined fire permits within in the City of Merritt will be reinstated). Wildfire prevention is a shared responsibility. Human-caused wildfires are completely preventable and divert critical resources away from lightning-caused wildfires. We appreciate your support in helping to keep our community and surrounding areas safe this summer.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Merritt Fire/Rescue Department for more information.
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On July 12, 2024 the below open fires are prohibited in the Kamloops Fire Centre:
- Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
- Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
- Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation
In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:
- Fireworks
- Sky Lanterns
- Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description
- Binary Exploding Targets
- Air curtain burners
- Tiki and similar kind of torches
- Chimineas, including outdoor stoves and other portable campfire apparatuses that are NOT CSA or ULC approved
These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Kamloops Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise in an enactment (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Always check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in effect.
The use of outdoor stoves is not prohibited. This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.
Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.
The Kamloops Fire Centre would like to thank the public for its continuing help in preventing wildfires. To report a wildfire, or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For up-to-date information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, call 1 888 3-FOREST or visit: www.bcwildfire.ca
To learn more about the different categories of open burning, visit the Open Burning webpage.
Fire bans are set by the Province of BC’s Kamloops Fire Centre.
People can follow the latest wildfire news:
- on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices
- on Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
- on Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
Connect with the City of Merritt Fire Department.
For Fire Protection services outside of Merritt in the Thomson-Nicola Regional District, visit the TNRD.
Connect with the Province of B.C. at www.gov.bc.ca/connect.
Fire Information Officer
BC Wildfire Service
Kamloops Fire Centre
250 554-5965
Follow the Latest Wildfire News
- on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices
- on Twitter: twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
- on Facebook: facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo
Connect with the City of Merritt Fire Department.
CITY OF MERRITT BYLAW 2272 | FIRE AND SAFETY REGULATIONS BYLAW
Reference item 13 “Outdoor Fires,” citing “No fire may be lit unless a Permit has been issued for the parcel of land.”
Connect with the Thomson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD)
For Fire Protection services outside of the municipal boundaries of the City of Merritt, visit the Thomson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD).
