KELOWNA – It's an effort to stop human caused wildfires and to protect you from losing your property… or your life.

As of noon on Saturday, June 15th, an opening burning is in effect for the entire Kamloops Fire Centre. The Kamloops Fire Centre covers the Penticton, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Clearwater, Merritt and Lillooet fire zones.

The ban doesn't cover campfires. That's good news for everyone heading into the great outdoors for camping trips.

The open burning ban is in effect until October 1st in the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones and until October 15th in the rest of the zones.

The ban covers burning of any waste, slash or other materials. You are no longer allowed to burning stubble or grass. The use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels is prohibited.

BC Parks, Crown lands and private lands are covered by the ban. It doesn't apply to municipalities that have their own forest fire prevention bylaws and have their own fire departments.