Responding to continuing warm and dry conditions, the Province has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Thompson, Kettle and Granby watersheds.

At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, an updated area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Elephant Hill wildfire came into effect and will remain in force until noon on Oct. 31 or until the order is rescinded.

At noon on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, an area restriction for Crown land in the vicinity of the Diamond Creek wildfire came into effect.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2017, an area restriction order is in place for Crown land in the vicinity of the Philpott Road/Highway 33 wildfire.

An updated area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Elephant Hill wildfire came into effect at 9 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2017. This area restriction order will remain in place until noon on Oct. 31, 2017, or until it is otherwise rescinded.

The Government of British Columbia has announced a Level 3 drought rating for the North Thompson and South Thompson regions.

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 It will remain in place until the earlier of noon on Oct. 31, 2017 or until the order is rescinded.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.

Ten kilometres of new wildlife-exclusion fencing will be built along the Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt, increasing safety for motorists by preventing wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Due to reduced fire activity and recent progress made on the Dunn Lake wildfire by firefighting crews, the BC Wildfire Service has rescinded the area restriction order that was implemented on July 7, 2017, for the area around this fire.

As the fastest-growing demographic in B.C., Indigenous youth are important to the social and economic future of the province.