Dozens of people experiencing homelessness are about to have access to safe and secure homes with the opening of Goodacre Place, a 24-unit supportive housing project that also includes space for emergency short-term beds.

The rehabilitation of land impacted by the suppression of wildfires in 2018 is underway throughout the Northwest Fire Centre, with work being done at 12 of the most significant fire sites.

One of the areas hit hardest by this year’s wildfires has reached a milestone in its recovery as a result of close collaboration between the B.C. government and the Gitxsan First Nation.

Under B.C.’s Water Sustainability Act, British Columbians who are using groundwater (from a well or dugout) for non-domestic uses on their property are required to submit a groundwater-licence application by March 1, 2019.

The BC Wildfire Service is aware of Category 3 open burning operations planned along Highway 37 in the Meziadin Junction area, about 55 kilometres east of Stewart and about 245 kilometres south of Dease Lake.

Smoke from a pile burning project on Hudson Bay Mountain is highly visible in the Smithers area, but the BC Wildfire Service is fully aware of this project and it does not pose any risk to the town of Smithers.

The BC Wildfire Service is urging people to use caution when conducting an open burn.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, all area restriction orders that are in effect in the Northwest Fire Centre will be rescinded.

A series of area restriction orders remain in effect in the Northwest Fire Centre for the Verdun Mountain, Island Lake, Cheslatta Lake, Nadina Lake, Hautete (Morrison Mainline), Gilmore Lake, Cheslaslie Arm and Torkelsen Lake wildfires.

Category 2 and Category 3 open burning is again allowed throughout the Northwest Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.