B.C. Day long weekend will be a hot one

If you go out to the woods to play this weekend, be prepared to take your propane barbecue or stove and leave the firewood at home.

That's great for people looking to play in the sun, but not great for forest firefighters who are already trying to deal with 36 blazes in the Kamloops Fire Centre region.

Fire information officer Elise Riedlinger said Thursday there is a campfire ban for most of the province, with the exception of some parts of the Kootenays, Vancouver Island and northwest B.C.

The forecast calls for the possibility of dry lightning in the Interior during the next week.

"So our crews will be busy and it's critical we have them available to respond to lightning-caused fires and that they're not tied up dealing with human-caused fires," she said.

The campfire ban went into effect at noon Thursday and is ongoing. Campers can use cooking stoves or portable propane campfires that are CSA or ULC approved, but flames must be kept to 15 centimetres or lower.

The ban also applies to fireworks, tiki torches and burning barrels.

Extra patrols will be on and those breaking the rules can be fined $345. If someone does spark a wildfire, they can be fined up to $1 million or three years in prison and also be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

If you're staying closer to home in Kamloops, you might want to take in the 31st annual Kamloopa Powwow at the Tk'emlups Indian reserve.

The event starts tonight at 7 p.m. and goes Saturday and Sunday. The cost of admission is $10 per day and $20 for a weekend pass. Arts and crafts booths will also be available.

Lee Morris at Tourism Kamloops said anyone looking for a celebrity to watch this weekend can check out Global TV meteorologist (and Tourism Kamloops spokesman) Mark Madryga.

He's at the Motoplex Speedway outside of Vernon on Saturday afternoon to fulfill his end of the bargain in the Tourism Kamloops Double Dog Dare challenge. Between 3 and 5 p.m., he'll be driving a NASCAR around the track and later in the evening, will be co-grand marshall for the main race. There is an admission charge for entry.

On Sunday, from 3 to 4 p.m., Madryga takes on past and present NHL players along with Kamloops Blazers graduates in road hockey at the Juniper Ridge park.

Madryga's third challenge is to appear in the Rocky Horror Show with Project X Theatre, but his stage debut won't be this weekend. It's slated for Aug. 14. Tickets are available.

Morris said there are lots of other events going on around town and in the region, including the Saturday farmers' market and artisan square downtown, First Nations annual baseball tournament, Highland Valley Copper open house Monday and 2141 Heritage Train.

More information is available at the Tourism Kamloops website at www.tourismkamloops.com/events_showEvents.html.

Whatever the event or outing, Kamloops RCMP are reminding everyone to stay safe and sober.

Const. Rose Dunsmore said police will be out this weekend, on the roads, water and footpaths.

"There will be zero tolerance for drug and alcohol use, in public, on rivers and roads," she said.

"We encourage everyone to be responsible and vigilant this weekend."

She recommended allowing yourself lots of travel time to get where you're going, use your seat belt, stay within the speed limit, don't drink and drive, and don't use your cell phone while at the wheel.

"We'll be out there in force."