Recent hot and dry conditions paired with a high fire danger rating have prompted Vernon to start a campfire ban.

Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Wednesday, July 10, all fires will be prohibited within the city.

The ban is issued in coordination with the , which takes effect Friday, July 12.

The ban is intended to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

This campfire ban will remain in place until Oct. 11, 2024, or until the public is otherwise notified.

The campfire ban does not apply to CSA-rated or ULC-rated cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, so long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimeters.

Non-compliance with the fire ban may result in fines up to $1,000 through the City of Vernon municipal bylaws. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The City of Vernon would like to thank the public for helping to prevent wildfires. To report a fire in city limits, call 911. To report a wildfire, call the BC Wildfire Service at 1-800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.