The BC Wildfire Service would like to remind the public that Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited in the Boundary, Arrow, Kootenay Lake, Invermere and Cranbrook fire zones due to current and forecasted weather conditions, and to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

The BC Wildfire Service is planning to burn piles of wood debris from a fuel treatment project in the Sitkum Creek area (about 11 kilometres northeast of Nelson) on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017.

The BC Wildfire Service is planning to burn slash piles in the Lardeau Valley, about 50 kilometres northwest of Kaslo, on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. The goal is to reduce the amount of flammable material and reduce the risk of aggressive wildfires in this area in the future.

Effective at noon Pacific time on Sept. 30, 2017, Category 2 fires will once again be permitted within the Columbia Fire Zone in the Southeast Fire Centre due to a decreased risk of wildfire in that region.

BC Wildfire Service personnel, in conjunction with BC Parks, will be conducting a prescribed burn near the Blue Joint wildfire in Granby Provincial Park on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, weather permitting.

Due to recent changes in weather conditions and fire behaviour, the area restriction currently in effect in the Flathead area southeast of Fernie will be rescinded at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017.

Due to recent changes in the weather and fire behaviour, the area restriction currently in effect around the Linklater wildfire will be rescinded at noon Pacific time on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017.

Due to recent changes in the weather and fire behaviour, the area restriction currently in effect around the White River and Quinn Creek wildfires will be rescinded at noon Pacific Time on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017.

The recent downturn in the weather has decreased the number of new wildfire starts and reduced aggressive wildfire behaviour in the Southeast Fire Centre. Initial attacks on new wildfires have been successful.

Due to decreased fire activity, cooler weather and recent progress made by firefighting crews, regional districts in the Southeast Fire Centre and the BC Wildfire Service have made some changes to existing area restrictions and evacuation alerts.