With many parts of British Columbia experiencing colder weather and more people lighting their fireplaces and wood stoves, residents are reminded that anyone who cuts, collects or uses firewood must ensure that it is harvested legally.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires, as well as some other activities and the use of certain equipment, will be restricted throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires.

The BC Wildfire Service is sending additional personnel to Alberta to help respond to an increasingly challenging wildfire situation.

Effective at noon on Thursday, July 26, 2018, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

At noon on Saturday, May 26, 2018, an area restriction for Crown land in the vicinity of the Allie Lake wildfire came into effect to accommodate operational requirements. It will remain in place until noon on Oct. 31, 2018, or when the order is rescinded. The Allie Lake wildfire-area restriction remains in place to protect public safety and to ensure the safety of firefighting personnel who continue with fire suppression activities.

Due to drier than normal conditions, there is an increase in wildfire activity within the Kamloops Fire Centre.

As warmer weather returns to parts of the province that were affected by last summer’s wildfires, some hotspots could emerge due to what are called “overwintering” fires.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is planning to conduct a 35-hectare prescribed burn on Crown land about 20 kilometres southeast of Ashcroft and about three kilometres northeast of Barnes Lake.

Effective at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, the area restriction that’s been in place around the Elephant Hill wildfire north of Ashcroft was rescinded. The BC Wildfire Service no longer needs to restrict access to the area to protect public safety or conduct its firefighting operations.

Responding to continuing warm and dry conditions, the Province has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Thompson, Kettle and Granby watersheds.