The BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to be careful with fire this spring.

While snowpacks in the mountains are deep, valley bottoms are very dry and have received little to no precipitation so far this spring.

There have already been a handful open burns that have escaped control this spring, like one Tuesday afternoon near the Penticton Airport. The Kelowna Fire Department also snuffed a wildfire in the Kirschner Mountain area of Kelowna overnight.

While there are currently no open fire prohibitions in effect in the Kamloops Fire Centre, anyone conducting an open fire should use caution and be aware of local conditions that might impact their ability to burn safely and control their open fires.

Those conducting open burns are being reminded of the open burning regulations:

Anyone found in contravention of an open-burning prohibition may be issued a violation ticket for $1,150, may be required to pay an administrative penalty of up to $10,000 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail.

If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.