Effective at noon on Friday, July 13, 2012, all open fires are prohibited within the Northwest Fire Centre with the exception of the former North Coast Forest District.

The Northwest Fire Centre is encouraging the public to be extra cautious with campfires and open burning activities this weekend, due to a forecast of dry and warm weather in the region.

Three fires that the Northwest Fire Centre recently responded to in the Terrace area are now under investigation by compliance and enforcement officers from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. These fires are suspected to be human-caused and may have been deliberately set. The RCMP has been advised and the incidents will be referred to the RCMP if warranted.

The Northwest Fire Centre has responded to seven fires within the past week, all of which were human-caused.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and BC Timber Sales are planning to conduct a 45-hectare prescribed burn near Topley over the next month to reduce the risk of wildfire and help maintain local ecosystems.

Anyone conducting spring burning this weekend is reminded to stay vigilant due to forecasts for warmer weather and gusty winds.

The public is invited to review and provide comments on the draft Cranberry Sustainable Resource Management Plan until Nov. 13, 2011.

As the last long weekend of the summer draws near, recreationalists are reminded to make sure their campfires are out before leaving an area as hot dry weather is predicted for the following week.

The Northwest Fire Centre is urging the public to be extra cautious with any burning due to increasingly hot and dry conditions.

SMITHERS - The Northwest Fire Centre is reminding the public to be extremely careful with spring burning after responding to seven incidents over the long weekend, including four fires. While the fires were relatively small, the largest consumed roughly seven hectares or the equivalent of 14 football fields.