The provincial government is providing $225,000 over the next 12 months to bring the popular Bear Aware program to more communities around the province.

To protect sensitive grasslands and riparian ecosystems in the Thompson Rivers District, the Province has introduced measures to restrict recreational use in the Tunkwa-Duffy area.

The Province will open the Thompson River steelhead catch and release sport fishery for the remainder of 2011, effective Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.

Effective at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, all open fires will be permitted within the Kamloops Fire Centre due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

KAMLOOPS - Effective at 12 noon on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, all open fires will be permitted within the Clearwater and Salmon Arm fire zones, due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

Effective at 12 noon on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, campfires are allowed within the Kamloops Fire Centre's jurisdiction due to a decreased risk for wildfires.

Effective at 12 noon on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011, the prohibitions currently in place within the Kamloops Fire Centre's jurisdiction will be extended and expanded to other areas to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

The public is strongly encouraged to postpone cutting firewood due to hot, dry conditions and an increased risk of wildfires within the Kamloops Fire Centre.

Several wildfires that have sparked over the past few days have Kamloops fire officials urging the public to be careful with fire use and to pay attention to all open burning, including campfire, bans.