Effective July 13, 2017, the allowable annual cut for Canadian Forest Products Ltd.’s Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 18, northwest of Clearwater, is 175,000 cubic metres, chief forester Diane Nicholls announced.

A public access restriction for areas around the Sutherland Road wildfire is now in effect and will remain in force until the public is otherwise notified. This restriction was put in place to protect the safety of the public and firefighting personnel.

A public access restriction for the areas around the Thuya Creek and Dunn Lake wildfires is now in effect and will remain in force until the public is otherwise notified. This restriction was put in place to protect the safety of the public and firefighting personnel.

BC Wildfire Service personnel are currently responding to 25 lightning-caused wildfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. Although some of these fires are highly visible from surrounding communities, none of them are immediately threatening communities or structures.

The BC Wildfire Service is fully prepared to respond quickly to any wildfire activity in the Coastal Fire Centre. Although some resources are being deployed to the Interior to help fight the large fires there, sufficient firefighters and equipment will remain in the region to maintain a first response capability locally.

The first of 310 firefighting personnel from other Canadian agencies began arriving in British Columbia on Sunday, July 9, 2017, to help the BC Wildfire Service get the upper hand on the 225 wildfires that are burning in the province.

Drivers are advised that Highway 1 will be closed overnight between McKenzie Avenue/Admirals Road and Six Mile Road to ensure the safety of drivers and construction crews while the old pedestrian-cyclist bridge is removed.

Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for the Invermere Timber Supply Area is 496,720 cubic metres, chief forester Diane Nicholls announced. After five years, the cut level will decrease to 424,800 cubic metres.

Effective at noon Pacific Time on Monday, July 3, 2017, Category 2 open fires will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.