Premier Christy Clark is reminding all British Columbians of the importance of wildfire prevention in the wake of the 34 wildfires that blazed up in a single day in the northeast earlier this week.

The BC Wildfire Service has responded to 45 new wildfires in the Prince George Fire Centre since the morning of April 18, 2016. Many of these fires are burning in the Peace region where 14 fires are currently estimated to be over 100 hectares in size.

BC Wildfire Service crews have successfully contained or extinguished all recent wildfires in the Cariboo Fire Centre. The wildfire near Nazko and the wildfire near the Bonaparte River recreation site are both now 100% contained.

The public is urged to take extra care and caution near the Okanagan River due to high water levels.

Due to the current dry conditions, the Cariboo Fire Centre will be prohibiting Category 2 and Category 3 fires, as of noon on April 4, 2016, to help prevent human-caused fires and protect the public.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is undertaking a fuels management treatment project within the City of Powell River to reduce forest fuels near the Penticton Trails.

The Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail is one step closer to completion in B.C.’s Cariboo region, with the opening of a new bridge over Moffat Creek near Horsefly.

The B.C. government and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities are providing new grants totalling $500,000 to help communities identify and take action to reduce wildfire risks on private land.

Deer, moose and elk hunters in the Cherryville area (Wildlife Management Unit 8-23) are once again being asked to assist with a project to confirm wildlife in the area are not infected with bovine tuberculosis.

The BC Wildfire Service reminds everyone planning to head into the backcountry or go camping on the Labour Day long weekend to comply with provincial legislation related to campfire use and open burning.