The Government of British Columbia has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the Coldwater River watershed and a Level 3 drought rating for the Salmon River watershed.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, campfires will once again be allowed in some areas of the Prince George Fire Centre: the Prince George, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, Peace and Fort Nelson forest districts.

Effective at noon on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, campfires will once again be allowed in some areas of the Northwest Fire Centre: the Skeena Stikine Forest District (the Cassiar Fire Zone and Bulkley Fire Zone) and the Coast Mountain Forest District (the Skeena Fire Zone).

Two volunteers maintaining hundreds of kilometres of trail in the South Fraser; a group responsible for the creation of the Ancient Forest Provincial Park; a First Nations elder protecting the Stein Valley; and groups working to enhance the Myra Canyon trestles; and to clean up debris along the coast of Vancouver Island. What do they have in common? They are all recipients of the 2016 BC Parks Volunteer Awards.

Due to recent rainfall and cooler temperatures — and in consultation with the BC Wildfire Service — BC Parks reopened portions of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park for public use on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017.

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.

BC Parks, in co-ordination with the BC Wildfire Service and Recreation Sites and Trails BC, will close backcountry access to specific areas of Wells Gray Provincial Park effective at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017. This step is being taken to help protect public safety.

With B.C. Day around the corner, everyone has a role to play in helping to prevent wildfires and having a safe, healthy long weekend.