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What you can burn, where you can burn it

The laws about what you can burn, and what you can’t burn, changed both in the Town of Princeton and the regional district in the past week.
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The laws about what you can burn, and what you can’t burn, changed both in the Town of Princeton and the regional district in the past week.

As of October 15th open burning is once again allowed within municipal boundaries.

The town’s atmosphere contamination bylaw does not specifically set parameters for burning through the winter months.

Rather, it restricts open burning from April 15 to October 15 each year.

According to bylaw enforcement officer Stephanie Palmar any fires in the town of Princeton are subject to provincial law.

She said town staff “strongly advises” that no one burn grass or leaves, and rather takes those materials to the landfill.

“They are smoky and that smoke is extremely carcinogenic when it’s wet.”

She said: “if people are kind to the environment and their neighbors, they won’t do it.”

According to Wildfire BC, open fires and campfires are currently permitted in the Kamloops Fire Center, which includes Princeton and the RDOS. Forestry use is also unrestricted.

Areas covered by the regional district fire bylaw saw backyard and multiple pile burning restrictions rescinded October 15th as well, with the province changing their rules on October 13.

The RDOS fire bylaw covers only the fire protection areas of Kaleden, Naramata, Okanagan Falls, Tulameen and Willowbrook.

According to an RDOS press release issued last week, anyone living outside of these areas defers to the Ministry of Forests.

“The RDOS would like to remind residents that the high risk of forest fires remains due to low levels of precipitation and dry conditions. Please follow vigilant safety precautions when burning. You must have a burn permit, and even if you have a 2017 burn permit in place you must check with your local Fire Chief before burning. There may be no burning in certain areas, release states.

Questions about local fire bans can be directed to the regional district office at 250-492-0237.



Andrea DeMeer

About the Author: Andrea DeMeer

Andrea is the publisher of the Similkameen Spotlight.
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