A complete and total ban on open fires is now in place in British Columbia, with the province having declared a state of emergency last week.
All fires, including campfires, are banned, with the exception of forest fires serviced by a fire department and propane-fuelled firepits and stoves. There are stiff penalties in place for anyone disobeying this ban.
According to the BC Wildfire Service, there are four wildfires of note, meaning they are “highly visible or pose a potential threat to public safety.”
They are located in the Prince George region, around Kamloops, Harrison Lake East, and the Cariboo. The fire centres in each of these regions has a more detailed list of their respective fires.
Evacuation alerts and orders have been pouring in since May 19, 2017, with the most recent one as of Monday, July 10, 2017 for Princeton, Cariboo, and McBride Road in the Fraser-Fort George areas.
For now, there are no imminent evacuation orders in our region, despite some active fires, but everyone must remain vigilant in this regard. Notify the fire department immediately if you see any smoke or suspicious activity.