A cold front bringing strong and variable winds, with gusts up to 60 km/h, is expected to move through the Cariboo Fire Centre on Friday, Aug. 18 and into the weekend. There is also a risk of lightning throughout the fire centre.

With streams and rivers in the Middle Fraser, Similkameen, Coldwater, Nicola and Kettle watersheds experiencing very low flows, and weather conditions expected to remain dry, residents of the Cariboo and Thompson-Okanagan regions are urged to reduce their water consumption.

An independent, respected national water and governance expert has been commissioned to support the review of the pollution in the Hullcar Aquifer, recently announced by Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman.

Small businesses can immediately access emergency financial support in areas that have been impacted by the B.C. wildfires, Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson announced today.

Smoke originating from wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre and Cariboo Fire Centre has been visible in most areas of the Nadina, Bulkley and Skeena fire zones in the Northwest Fire Centre. This smoke is expected to linger in the area for the next few days.

With no relief in sight in the weather forecast, B.C.’s wildfire emergency is expected to continue over the next few weeks. To ensure that adequate resources are available to continue in the fight, more international personnel are on the way.

The recent growth of two wildfires in the Southeast Fire Centre has prompted the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to issue two evacuation alerts — one for the Galena Bay area and another for Heather Lodge and the surrounding area.

The Precipice wildfire that is burning about 52 kilometres east of Bella Coola continues to grow. This lightning-caused fire started on July 7, 2017, in a remote area of Tweedsmuir Park on the Cariboo Plateau, known locally as “The Precipice”.

People living in the Williams Lake area can expect to see columns of smoke rising from within the Wildwood wildfire today and in the coming days.

The BC Wildfire Service has implemented three forest service road closures in the Southeast Fire Centre to help protect public safety and aid in wildfire suppression activities.