Kamloops Fire Rescue preaching caution ahead of Canada Day long weekend
Jun 29, 2023 | 5:15 PM
Sydney Chisholm
KAMLOOPS – The long weekend is approaching and both Kamloops Fire Rescue and the city want to remind residents about safety for the hot summer weather.
KFR and the City of Kamloops are preparing for more hot weather. Firefighters are encouraging everyone to fire smart their home, especially before leaving for a weekend getaway.
“Summer is well on the way and conditions are heating up so we’ve done preparations for fire season and people can expect that we’re gonna be getting fires,” Captain Jamie Chase, KFR Life Safety Educator told CFJC News.
“Every homeowner should be making their own preparations to get ready and make sure that they’ve made their property as safe as they can.”
Going into the long weekend, there are no campfire bans in place for the Kamloops Fire Center Region, but even in areas where you are allowed, there is still a risk of wildfire.
Chase said people must be cautious and stay up to date with regulations.
“Then make sure that they arere doing the proper safety with the campfire and make sure that it’s out before they leave the campfire weather that’s to go down to the lakeside for a couple of hours, or whatever else,” Chase said.
“They should not be leaving any unattended campfires and of course, inside the City of Kamloops like the rest of the year, there are no campfires allowed.”
Temperatures aren’t forecasted to reach heat warning temperatures yet but this weekend could get close.
In preparation, the City of Kamloops has released its heat alert response protocol, which will take effect if Environment Canada issues a heat warning, or when the daytime high temperature is forecast to be 35 C or greater and the nighttime low temperature does not go below 18 C for two or more days in a row.
The Sandman Centre will be used as an indoor cooling centre in the event a heat warning is issued for the city of Kamloops.
In a statement released earlier today, the city encouraged residents to be aware of the heat response protocol and understand the actions that the City takes.
