Effective at noon Pacific time today, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, all Crown land within the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District is closed to public access due to the continued extreme fire danger rating, the number of unprecedented aggressive wildfires throughout the region and moderate winds forecasted over the next few days.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding the public that the operation of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and all motorcycles for recreational purposes on Crown land continues to be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre.

Due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures — and in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service — BC Parks reopened portions of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for public use on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.

The recent growth of two wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre has prompted the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to issue two evacuation alerts — one for the Galena Bay area and another for Heather Lodge and the surrounding area.

BC Wildfire Service personnel have been responding to lightning-caused wildfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. Although some of these wildfires are visible from surrounding communities, none of these fires is immediately threatening communities or structures.

As a result of cooler temperatures and moderate fire danger ratings, BC Parks — in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service — has reopened southern sections of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for public use, effective immediately. 

In an effort to protect public safety, BC Parks, in co-ordination with the BC Wildfire Service, will close Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park to inbound traffic effective immediately.

BC Wildfire Service is expecting smoke from the Kamloops and Cariboo Fire Centres to drift into the region by tomorrow and is expected to continue moving through this region, so long as the prevailing winds come from the west and northwest.

The BC Wildfire Service would like to remind the public that fire wardens are on patrol in the Southeast Fire Centre and educating people about the campfire ban that came into effect at noon Pacific time on Friday, July 7, 2017.

Effective at noon Pacific time on Friday, July 7, 2017, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.