Due to elevated wildfire activity in British Columbia, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson was able to confirm that 70 personnel will be arriving from Ontario to assist with B.C.'s firefighting efforts.

The Province is cautioning all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and report all wildfires to authorities as 184 active fires are being fought across British Columbia with 9 evacuation alerts and orders currently in effect, impacting over 800 homes.

Responding to dry conditions, the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 4 drought rating for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and taken the additional action of suspending angling in streams and rivers throughout southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands due to ongoing low stream flows and warming water temperatures.

The Province is providing $135,000 to support the recovery of the Vancouver Island marmot over the next two years, with Island Timberlands and TimberWest contributing an additional $35,000 each for 2015.

Public input on proposed land use objectives and the potential for new biodiversity, mining and tourism areas (BMTAs) and a conservancy in the Great Bear Rainforest is being sought until Aug.10, 2015, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced.

With weather conditions expected to remain dry in the coming week, water users on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii are being urged to reduce water consumption.