Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for the Cranbrook Timber Supply Area (TSA) is set at 808,000 cubic metres, chief forester Diane Nicholls announced today.

Due to improving weather conditions and fire suppression, Recreation Sites and Trails BC — in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service — will re-open select recreation sites and recreation trails within the Cariboo Fire Centre at 12 noon on Aug. 25, 2017.

Effective at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, the general backcountry closure for the Cariboo Fire Centre was rescinded due to decreased wildfire risk.

A lightning-caused fire is burning about 1.5 kilometres south of the Canada-U.S. border and about 18 kilometres southwest of the community of Newgate (about 65 kilometres southeast of Cranbrook).

The Government of British Columbia has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the Coldwater River watershed and a Level 3 drought rating for the Salmon River watershed.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, campfires will once again be allowed in some areas of the Prince George Fire Centre: the Prince George, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Peace and Fort Nelson forest districts.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, campfires will once again be allowed in some areas of the Northwest Fire Centre: the Skeena Stikine Forest District (the Cassiar Fire Zone and Bulkley Fire Zone) and the Coast Mountain Forest District (the Skeena Fire Zone).

For reasons of public safety, the BC Wildfire Service is implementing additional road closures around the White River Complex wildfire, which is burning about 47 kilometres northeast of Canal Flats in the Southeast Fire Centre.

BC Timber Sales (BCTS) forestry operations in the Snowden Forest, north of John Hart Lake, are planned to restart in spring 2018, with operational phases continuing through 2019.

At noon on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, an expanded area restriction for all Crown land in the vicinity of the Elephant Hill wildfire came into effect. It will remain in place until the earlier of noon on Oct. 31, 2017 or until the order is rescinded. This restriction has been put in place to protect public safety and to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel who continue with fire suppression activities.