Pritchard FireSmart

10/19/2026

Are you beginning to get ready for winter?

That doesn’t mean to forget about preparing your home for fires. While doing fall cleanup, keep in mind of these important tasks ….

Did you know that the first 1.5 metres around your home is the most critical zone for wildfire resilience?

Take a few minutes to clear leaves, mulch, and debris from around the base of your home, decks, and patios. Keeping this area clean and non-combustible helps prevent embers from finding fuel close to your house.

Always remember to fire smart your home and look for all the little things that matter

10/02/2026

Effective at 12 p.m. (noon) Pacific Time (PT) on Oct. 2, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Anyone carrying out a Category 3 open fire must register their burn in the Open Fire Tracking System by getting a burn registration number. Category 2 and 3 open fires must comply with the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation.

Practicing fire safety and preparedness remains important all year long. Be aware of your local conditions, ensure that burning is done in a safe and responsible manner and always check with your local government before engaging in any activity that could spark a wildfire.
For more information, visit: gov.bc.ca/saferburning

Previous restricted activities are also now permitted.
To view the full Information Bulletin and list of activities, please visit: https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-2-and-3-open-fire-prohibition-rescind-in-the-kamloops-fire-centre/

09/29/2026

There's still colour to be found in the garden, thanks to the September Plant of the Month: Showy Stonecrop 🌸

This fire-resistant perennial succulent is a late-season bloomer, bringing clusters of pink flowers when other plants are fading. Its thick, water-storing leaves and stems make it harder to ignite, a good fit for the intermediate zone. Bees, birds, and butterflies are drawn to the nectar, while deer and rabbits tend to leave the rubbery foliage alone.

Showy stonecrop grows 30 to 60 cm tall depending on the cultivar, does well in poor soils, and is extremely cold-hardy, though it will not tolerate standing water. It is a good choice for a hot, sunny, xeriscape garden.

Learn more about showy stonecrop and other fire-resistant plants: https://firesmartbc.ca/plants-of-the-month/showy-stonecrop/

09/21/2026

With the FireSmart BC Education Program, K-1 students will learn the basics of fire safety and explore themes around mitigation and prevention, including:

- Identifying the seasons when wildfires are most likely to occur.
- Determining which items around a home are likely to burn.
- Understanding what it means to respect fire.

Find the lessons: https://firesmartbc.ca/educationprogram/

09/16/2026

09/01/2026

https://blog.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/category-1-campfires-permitted-throughout-the-kamloops-fire-centre-2/

Category 1 campfires permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre September 1, 2026 KAMLOOPS – Effective at 12:00 noon Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) on September 3, 2026 Category 1 campfires will be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibite...

09/01/2026

🔥🌲 PRITCHARD FIRESMART We can Start Closest to Home

It’s crazy that a small area can make a big difference.

FireSmart BC recommends keeping the first 1.5 metres around your home and attached deck non-combustible. This Immediate Zone is where wind-blown embers can collect and ignite nearby materials.

Take a quick walk around your home today:

✅ Remove dry leaves, needles and grass
✅ Clear debris from under decks and stairs
✅ Move firewood, lumber, patio cushions and other combustibles away to either a fire rated building, or to the extended zone.
✅ Keep plants and bark mulch outside the 1.5-metre zone
✅ Consider gravel, brick or concrete beside the structure

Even plants labelled fire-resistant should not be planted within 1.5 metres of a home. No plant is fireproof.

Learn more from FireSmart BC’s Home Ignition Zone guidance⁠ and Landscaping Best Practices⁠.

Pritchard challenge: Set a timer for 15 minutes and improve one section beside your home today. What can you move, clean or change?

08/30/2026

🔥 PRITCHARD FIRESMART COMMUNITY UPDATE 🔥

OFF-ROAD VEHICLE BAN LIFTED

Effective Friday, August 28, 2026, at noon, the off-road vehicle prohibition on Crown land throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre has been rescinded.

Recent rainfall has reduced the wildfire risk enough to allow recreational use of:

✅ ATVs
✅ Motorcycles
✅ Side-by-sides

Although conditions have improved, wildfire risk remains. Please ensure your off-road vehicle is properly maintained and equipped with an effective spark arrestor.

🚫 All open-fire prohibitions remain in effect, including:

• Category 1 campfires
• Category 2 and 3 open fires
• Fireworks and sky lanterns
• Burn barrels and burn cages
• Binary exploding targets
• Other prohibited wood-burning devices

Please also respect any wildfire area restrictions that remain in place.

🌲 Conditions can change quickly. Staying informed helps protect our homes, our neighbours and our entire community.

Follow Pritchard FireSmart for current local information and important wildfire updates.

Report a wildfire:
📱 *5555 from a cellphone
☎️ 1-800-663-5555