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 It will remain in place until the earlier of noon on Oct. 31, 2017 or until the order is rescinded.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

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fire activity and recent progress made on the Dunn Lake wildfire by firefighting crews, the BC Wildfire Service has rescinded the area restriction order that was implemented on July 7, 2017, for the area around this fire.

With no relief in sight in the weather forecast, B.C.’s wildfire emergency is expected to continue over the next few weeks. To ensure that adequate resources are available to continue in the fight, more international personnel are on the way.

BC Parks, in co-ordination with the BC Wildfire Service and Recreation Sites and Trails BC, will close backcountry access to specific areas of Wells Gray Provincial Park effective at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. This step is being taken to help protect public safety.

As sustained hot and dry weather continues to exacerbate an already busy summer wildfire season, additional firefighting resources from the United States and Mexico have been engaged to assist the BC Wildfire Service.

Smoke from a large fire burning in Washington State has been highly visible in the Penticton Fire Zone and in much of southern B.C. recently. The smoke is expected to be seen in the area for the next few days. For more information about wildfires burning in the U.S. please visit: http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

The Elephant Hill wildfire’s west flank, to the east of the village of Clinton, has proved an ongoing challenge to wildfire suppression efforts over the past week due to sustained hot weather and variable winds.

Due to cooler temperatures and lower fire danger ratings in the northeastern portion of the Cariboo Fire Centre, BC Parks – in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service – reopened Bowron Lake Provincial Park for public use on July 28, 2017.