Wildfire Management Branch crews from the Northwest Fire Centre have responded to eight new fires in the last 24 hours in the Smithers, Terrace, Hazleton and Telkwa areas.

With weather conditions expected to remain dry in the coming week, water users in the Bulkley and Skeena watersheds are being urged to reduce water consumption.

With 162 wildfires still burning throughout the province and many fire crews needing to take mandatory days off, the Wildfire Management Branch will welcome 90 more out-of-province fire personnel to B.C. over the weekend.

Testing continues on samples taken from Polley and Quesnel lakes.

Effective at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, campfires will once again be permitted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

The Toquaht Bay marina and boat launch will reopen for access on Aug. 26, 2014.

Despite cooler temperatures and scattered showers in some areas of the Prince George Fire Centre, the fire danger rating still ranges from “high” to “extreme”.

The fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre currently ranges from “high” to “extreme”. Dry conditions are expected to continue and no substantial rainfall is in the forecast.

Motorists are advised that a stretch of Highway 99 is closed in both directions from Lillooet to 35 km north of Lillooet following a number of mudslides that occurred last night.

Environment Minister Mary Polak has suspended the environmental assessment of the proposed Morrison copper-gold mine pending the outcome of the Independent Expert Engineering Investigation and Review Panel in relation to the tailings dam breach at the Mt. Polley mine.