BC Gov News

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) forestry operations in the Snowden Forest, north of John Hart Lake, are planned to restart in spring 2018, with operational phases continuing through 2019.

At noon on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, an expanded area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Elephant Hill wildfire came into effect. It will remain in place until the earlier of noon on Oct. 31, 2017 or until the order is rescinded. This restriction has been put in place to protect public safety and to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel who continue with fire suppression activities.

In the interest of public safety, the BC Wildfire Service is implementing an additional modified road closure (to non-industrial traffic only) near the White River Complex wildfire, which is burning about 47 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats.

Premier John Horgan released the following statement about a rally by hate groups taking place on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 in Vancouver:

The Province is providing the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association (CCCTA) with financial support of up to $200,000 to help with tourism-related impacts from the B.C. wildfires, announced Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Lisa Beare, while meeting with business owners and tourism operators in the Cariboo region today.  

Two volunteers maintaining hundreds of kilometres of trail in the South Fraser; a group responsible for the creation of the Ancient Forest Provincial Park; a First Nations elder protecting the Stein Valley; and groups working to enhance the Myra Canyon trestles; and to clean up debris along the coast of Vancouver Island. What do they have in common? They are all recipients of the 2016 BC Parks Volunteer Awards.

The addition of 48 trades training seats at Okanagan College will increase student access to skills training in a range of high-demand careers, announced Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, during a visit to the Kelowna campus.

With streams and rivers in the Middle Fraser, Similkameen, Coldwater, Nicola and Kettle watersheds experiencing very low flows, and weather conditions expected to remain dry, residents of the Cariboo and Thompson-Okanagan regions are urged to reduce their water consumption.

B.C.’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been formally extended again, through the end of the day on Sept. 1, 2017. This is the third time the state of emergency has been extended, with previous extensions on July 19 and Aug. 4.