As the nights get colder and longer, more people are lighting their fireplaces to help stay warm. But do you know where your firewood comes from? Was it legally harvested?

Effective at noon on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, the existing Category 2 open fire and fireworks prohibition in the Coastal Fire Centre is being extended. It will now remain in place until Oct. 15, 2012 or until the prohibition order is rescinded.

Effective at noon on Friday, July 20, 2012, a Category 2 open fire and fireworks prohibition will be expanded to include all areas within the Coastal Fire Centre except Haida Gwaii.

During these long cold winter nights, people light their fireplaces to stay warm. But do you know where your firewood came from? Was it legally harvested?

B.C.'s chief forester has set the allowable annual cut for the Sunshine Coast timber supply area at 1,197,949 cubic metres, unchanged from the previous level.

Effective at 12 noon on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011, backyard burning will be permitted within parts of the Coastal Fire Centre due to a decreased risk of wildfire.

Comments are being accepted until Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 on a discussion paper released today as part of a comprehensive review of the Sunshine Coast timber supply area.

Sunshine Coast residents will now find it even easier to access government services with the official opening of a brand-new FrontCounter BC office at 7077 Duncan St. in Powell River.

The public is invited to review and comment on the draft land use order to establish Old Growth Management Areas in five landscape units in the Sunshine Coast District.