Break out the marshmallows campers, it's a rare long weekend without a fire ban

Campfire bans have been lifted just in time in the Thompson-Okanagan area for the labour day long weekend — only the third time in 11 years you could have a campfire at the end of August. Due to the immense amount of rain, humidity and chilly weather the previous week, the campfire ban that has been in place since July 12 has been lifted Aug. 28, including in most municipalities. Every year since 2013, fire bans closed out the summer before the September long weekend, except for 2022 and 2013. Residents of most places within the Okanagan and Thompson area are now allowed to have category one campfires, meaning a fire that is no larger than half a metre high and half a metre wide. Three Mile Beach, Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake are the only areas in Penticton where burning is permitted. Kamloops and Vernon are currently permitted for category one fires as well. Any fire larger than this is considered to be a category two fire which is currently banned. Fires must also be watched at all times to ensure control standards are met. Kelowna is the exception to this ruling as fires are banned year round. More information about exact fire ban lifts and bans can be found here https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/prevention/fire-bans-and-restrictions . To contact a reporter for this story, email Bailey Zimmer mailto:bzimmer@infonews.ca  or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .