As part of government’s phased approach to implementing the Water Sustainability Act (WSA), four papers outlining proposed new policies are now available on the WSA blog for public comment.

Over a thousand BC Wildfire Service personnel and contractors are putting their lives on the line to protect British Columbians from fire threats this summer, so we owe it to them to not make their work any more difficult, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson said today.

Parts of southeast British Columbia have received varying amounts of rainfall over the past week, but the campfire ban that’s been in place since July 3 throughout the Southeast Fire Centre’s jurisdiction will remain in place until the public is otherwise notified.

Crews from the BC Wildfire Service are responding to a wildfire near Skutz Falls Road about 10 kilometres east of Cowichan Lake.

Effective at noon on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, campfires will once again be permitted in the North Island-Central Coast Natural Resource District within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

An Area Restriction Order that was implemented for the Sitkum Creek wildfire on July 9, 2015, has been rescinded, effective immediately. This fire is now 90% contained.

Responding to continuing dry conditions, the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Thompson, Similkameen, Kettle and Skagit areas due to ongoing low stream flows.