The B.C. government is providing $20,000 to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to help manage invasive plants in the region.

Under the BC Rural Dividend, the Province is providing $9,971 in a new project development grant to the Simpcw First Nation.

Firefighting aircraft will be visible in the skies above West Kelowna at about 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, as part of an aviation demonstration associated with the Wildland Fire Canada 2016 conference.

Effective at noon on Saturday, Oct. 15, the current Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions will be rescinded throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.

BC Wildfire Service crews will help BC Timber Sales staff conduct a prescribed burn near Clemina in the Clearwater Fire Zone. This 33-hectare burn will be completed between Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 15.

Effective at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, the current Category 2 and Category 3 open burning bans in the Clearwater Fire Zone and Salmon Arm Fire Zone will be rescinded.

To protect sensitive grasslands and riparian ecosystems in the Thompson Rivers Natural Resource District, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is introducing measures to restrict motorized recreational use in the Lac du Bois/Batchelor and Lower Noble Creek areas.

Given the marked increase in wildfire activity in the Okanagan Valley and elsewhere in the province over the past week, the BC Wildfire Service is again urging the public to be extremely cautious with any allowed fire use.

The public is reminded that, despite recent rainfall, Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions remain in place throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre.