The Government of British Columbia is taking a multi-faceted approach to address homelessness in Parksville through new supportive homes and a temporary winter shelter to help the people in the community who need it most.

People struggling with homelessness in Parksville now have access to nightly shelter spaces during the cold and wet winter months.

Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, all open fires will once again be permitted throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, since recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have reduced wildfire risks in the region.

Effective at noon on Sept. 18, 2017, the BC Wildfire Service has rescinded the campfire prohibition that was in effect within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. The use of tiki torches (and similar kinds of torches), outdoor stoves, gas stoves and other portable campfire equipment is also now permitted.

Rain and cooler temperatures have reduced the wildfire risk in the Central Coast region of the province, so the BC Wildfire Service is rescinding the campfire ban in specific areas within the Coastal Fire Centre.  

Smoke from wildfires burning in the Interior is expected to drift down through valleys into coastal areas on Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 1-2, 2017), due to a change in weather conditions. These conditions could persist for the remainder of this week.

Smoke from wildfires burning in the Interior is expected to drift down through valleys into coastal areas on Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 1-2, 2017), due to a change in weather conditions. These conditions could persist for the remainder of this week.

Due to reduced fire activity and recent progress made by firefighting crews, the BC Wildfire Service will be rescinding the Area Restriction Order and forest service road closure that were implemented on July 2, 2017 for the area around the Harrison Lake East wildfire.

Despite open burning prohibitions being implemented in the Coastal Fire Centre (with the exception of Haida Gwaii and the area known as the “Fog Zone”), the BC Wildfire Service continues to receive reports of the current campfire ban being ignored by members of the public.

The BC Wildfire Service is fully prepared to respond quickly to any wildfire activity in the Coastal Fire Centre. Although some resources are being deployed to the Interior to help fight the large fires there, sufficient firefighters and equipment will remain in the region to maintain a first response capability locally.