Kamloops Fire Centre 2015.07.03

T he Kamloops Fire Centre has experienced an increase in activity over the last couple

of weeks, given the return of hot and dry weather. While the rain received earlier this week decreased the fire danger rating, wildfire risk is currently increasing on a daily basis.

In addition, the lightning activity that came with the storms passing through the region ignited many wildfires. Since Monday, crews have responded to 30 new fires sparked by lightning. Most of these fires have remained small due to the successful strategic response made by the BC Wildfire Service’s initial attack crews.

However, with conditions drying out due to consistent high temperatures, wildfires igniting within the region will spread faster, grow larger and require more suppression resources.

For this reason, the Kamloops Fire Centre has implemented a fire centre wide campfire ban. This is to help reduce the number of human-caused wildfires; crews need to be available to respond to naturally-occurring fires.

In addition to campfires, anything that generates a spark could start a wildfire in the backcountry. High-risk activities include operating a power saw, grinding, welding, or skidding.

For a complete list of high-risk activ-ities and the restrictions in place, please visit: http://bcwildfire.ca/Industry_Stakeholders/industry/HighRiskActivities.htm

Other activities such as operating any motorized vehicles including ATVs and dirt bikes, or using flare guns may also start a wildfire. In the event of these activities sparking a wildfire, those responsi-ble must report it by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellular phone.

Fire Zone # of Fires # of Hectares

Clearwater 18 83

Kamloops 35 14

Salmon Arm 13 2

Vernon 15 3

Penticton 33 305

Merritt 26 22

Lillooet 6 2315

Newby Lake wildfire, southwest of Osoyoos. Picture taken on July 2, 2015.

P A G E 2

Campfires banned throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre

KAMLOOPS—Effective at noon on Friday, July 3, 2015, all open fires—including campfires—will be prohibited throughout the entire Kamloops Fire Cen-tre. This prohibition will remain in place until the pub-lic is otherwise notified.

This step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. A map of the area covered by this open burning prohibition and campfire ban is available online at: http://bit.ly/1sfqVr9

The fire danger rating is currently “high” throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, with some areas rated “extreme”. With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have displayed ag-gressive behaviour and have required additional fire-fighting resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to natu-rally occurring wildfires.

In addition to campfires, this prohibition applies to open fires of any size, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels. This prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses bri-quettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, so long as the

height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

This burning prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of a local government that has forest fire prevention bylaws and is serviced by a fire depart-ment. Please check with local government authorities for any other restrictions before lighting any fire.

Anyone found in contravention of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000 or, if con-victed in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sen-tenced 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.

To report a wildfire or an open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone.

Check the link below for the latest information on

burning restrictions in your area:

http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/Bans.asp

Report a wildfire:

1-800-663-5555 or *5555

P A G E 3

Precipitation

Temperature Relative Humidity

These maps are for informational purposes only and should not be used to make operational decisions.

Fire Danger Rating

These maps are current for July 03, 2015

For the most recent weather maps, please visit www.bcwildfire.ca/weather

P A G E 4

Most recent forecast for KFC Valid as of 9:30 AM Friday, July 3, 2015

SYNOPSIS: An upper low is pushing eastward just north of the province, however gen-eral ridging conditions continue over the Fire Centre, continuing hot and dry conditions. Tomorrow will see temperatures cool a few degrees as the upper low drops down into northern Alberta/Saskatchewan and heights fall briefly over the province. A dry cold front pushing southward through the province trailing the upper low will move over the Fire Centre later today, and will cause increased winds this afternoon which will linger into tomorrow. Weak lightning potential over eastern sections of the Clearwater Zone exists for today, with precipitation amounts expected to be trace. TODAY: North Thompson: Mostly sunny. Risk of an afternoon thundershower with dry lightning near eastern boundaries. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h with erratic gusts to 80 km/h near thundershowers. High temperatures 29°C to 32°C and RH values falling to 15 to 25 per cent. Subsident Zone and Monashees: Sunny. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h with local afternoon gusts to 40 km/h. Wind south 15 to 25 gusting to 40 km/h in the Fra-ser Canyon becoming northerly late morning. High temperatures 34°C to 37°C and RH values falling to 12 to 22 per cent. TONIGHT: North Thompson: Clear. Winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h. Low tempera-tures 8°C to 11°C and RH recoveries to 70 to 80 per cent. Subsident Zone and Monashees: Clear. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h. Low temperatures 15°C to 19°C and RH recoveries to near 40 to 70 per cent. TOMORROW: North Thompson: Sunny. Risk of an afternoon thundershower with dry lightning near eastern boundaries. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. High temperatures 25°C to 28°C and RH values falling to 15 to 25 per cent. Subsident Zone and Monashees: Sunny. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h. High temperatures 32°C to 36°C and RH values falling to 10 to 25 per cent with locally lower. 3 TO 5 DAY OUTLOOK: The upper ridge rebuilds offshore and into the province on Sunday pushing temperatures back up into the low to upper 30s throughout the Fire Centre. Humidities are forecast to fall solidly down into the teens and low 20s, with sin-gle digits very likely to become more widespread as well. Winds will diminish Sunday and should remain light throughout the period, with the Clearwater Zone and eastern boundary regions of the Fire Centre showing hints of some easterly winds and convec-tion on Tuesday.

6 TO 10 DAY OUTLOOK: Things get a little messy in the long range forecast with an upper ridge breakdown forecast late Wednesday followed by a strong rebuild into Sunday. At the mo-ment slightly cooler temperatures along with isolated to scattered afternoon convection throughout the Fire Centre are forecast. Conditions will likely still remain relatively dry, however as no significant amounts of rain are expected.

Kamloops Fire

Centre Statistics

Since April 1, 2015:

Fires to date: 145

Hectares burned: 2,745

Person-caused fires: 65

Lightning-caused fires: 80

2009 at this time:

Fires to date: 277

Hectares burned: 9,000

Person-caused fires: 160

Lightning-caused fires: 117

2003 at this time:

Fires to date: 129

Hectares burned: 139

Person-caused fires: 86

Lightning-caused fires: 43

P A G E 5

Kamloops Fire Centre Indices—July 3, 2015

For general weather information, visit: http://bcwildfire.ca/Weather/

Want more weather information?

View an interactive map of the weather stations here: http://webmaps.gov.bc.ca/imf5/imf.jsp?

site=protection

View a daily list of the danger class rating here:

http://bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/DgrCls/index.asp?Region=5

Find how danger class relates to industry operations here:

http://bcwildfire.ca/Industry_Stakeholders/industry/

HighRiskActivities.htm

P A G E 6

Fine Fuel Moisture Codes

Report a wildfire *5555 on a cell or 1 800 663-5555

Wildfire Information Line 1 888 3FOREST

Burn Registration Line 1 888 797-1717

Kamloops Fire Information Officer 1 250 554-5965

Want more information? Visit the website at bcwildfire.ca

Important Numbers

W eather information is used to

develop codes to indicate

how dry the different classes

of fuels are in the forest. From this infor-

mation, preparedness levels are set on a

daily basis.

The FFMC (Fine Fuel Moisture Code) is

a code that measures the dryness of fine

fuels (grasses, needles, etc.). A number of

85 or higher indicates a good chance of a

fire start from an ignition source. Once 90

or higher is reached, all the fine fuels are

available to burn.

The DMC (Duff Moisture Code)

measures about 10 cm into the ground and

is an indication of whether a fire that starts

will continue to burn in the duff. A number

of 40 or greater would indicate that a fire

will continue to burn.

The DC is the Drought Code, measuring

deeper in the ground. A number of 300 or

greater indicates that the fire will burn

deep into the ground, providing challenges

to mop it up.

The Danger Class is the typical Fire Dan-

ger Rating that is seen on fire signage,

where 1 and 2 represent Low, 3 is Moder-

ate, 4 is High, and 5 is Extreme. A map of

the current Fire Danger Ratings is on Page

3.

* If you have any questions about which

weather station you should be monitor-

ing, please contact your company forest-

er or local fire zone for information.