Effective at 12 noon on Friday, June 15, 2012, the current open burning ban will be expanded across the entire Kamloops Fire Centre to include the Salmon Arm and Clearwater fire zones, in order to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations plans to aerially treat up to 6,700 hectares of forest in the Kamloops area to reduce populations of western spruce budworm.

Kamloops Fire Centre officials have responded to 61 person-caused fires since April 1. Forestry officials have also received reports of oversized bonfires and graduation party fires.

Further to the information bulletin issued earlier today, the Province of Ontario has cancelled its request for additional B.C. firefighting crews that were to be deployed on Wednesday, May 30.

B.C. is sending another 81 firefighting personnel to Ontario, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

B.C.'s Wildfire Management Branch is sending an additional 192 personnel to Quebec to assist that province with its increased fire activity.

Effective at 12 noon on Tuesday, May 15, the size of open fires will be restricted in most of the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

Effective at 12 noon on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, the size of open fires will be restricted in most of the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect the public.

The provincial government is providing $225,000 over the next 12 months to bring the popular Bear Aware program to more communities around the province.