As the holidays arrive, the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture is encouraging everyone to join with family and friends to enjoy British Columbia and support a flurry of community activities.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development soon will begin the second year of helicopter logging operations to minimize the spread of Douglas fir beetles on Crown land in the Williams Lake area.

The B.C. government has increased financial assurances for the Cariboo Bred Heifer Cooperative following requests for further support from ranchers in the region to help them grow their herds and businesses.

Effective at noon on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will once again be allowed throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction, due to a decreased wildfire risk in the region.

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding the public to adhere to all open burning regulations and be more diligent with their campfire use.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, area restrictions that are currently in place around many wildfires in the Cariboo will be rescinded, due to a return to seasonal weather conditions and reduced fire activity.

A section of the Highway 97 arterial through the City of Williams Lake will be widened from three to four lanes, improving safety within the city limits for local traffic, and increasing the capacity and efficiency for north and southbound vehicles on the highway.

Due to improved weather conditions and successful firefighting operations, Recreation Sites and Trails BC (in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service) has reopened additional recreation sites and recreation trails in the Cariboo Fire Centre, effective at 8 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2017.

In order to help protect public safety and allow fire suppression efforts to continue safely and efficiently, area restrictions have been expanded around several fires in the Cariboo Fire Centre.

With high and extreme fire danger ratings in the entire Cariboo Fire Centre and above-seasonal temperatures expected in the region over the long weekend, the BC Wildfire Service is urging the public to use extreme caution when spending time outdoors.