People living between the communities of Smithers and Vanderhoof may notice heavy smoke in the air as a result of the Chelaslie River wildfire.

This fire has burned an estimated 65,000 hectares, approximately seven kilometres south of the Chelaslie River, including sections of Entiako Provincial Park south of Natalkuz Lake. Smoky conditions are expected to continue throughout the long weekend as a result of this wildfire.

For more information on the Chelaslie River wildfire, please visit: bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=497

The Cariboo Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert, effective July 28, 2014, for areas near the Chelaslie River wildfire. For more information on this Evacuation Alert, please visit:

www.facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations

The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako has also issued an Evacuation Alert as of July 19, 2014. For more information please visit: www.rdbn.bc.ca

Due to fire activity in the area, the Entiako Provincial Park remains closed.
For more information, please visit: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/entiako/

There is an area closure in effect in the vicinity of the fire with a checkpoint established at 93.5 km on the Kluskus Forest Service Road. Only residents living in the area will be given access at this time. 

The fire danger rating in the Northwest Fire Centre is currently “high” to “extreme”, with increasingly hot and dry weather conditions in the forecast. These conditions mean that forest fuels are very dry and the risk of fire is serious. Extreme caution must be exercised when using fire in these conditions.

There are currently no campfire bans in effect for the Northwest Fire Centre. The public is reminded to be vigilant in the outdoors, as preventable human-caused wildfires divert critical resources away from naturally occurring wildfires. Campfires cannot be larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool (such as a shovel) or at least eight litres of water available to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended and make sure that the ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

To report a wildfire or abandoned campfire, call 1 800-663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

For information on air quality, as well as smoke forecasts for Western Canada, visit the BC Air Quality website: www.bcairquality.ca/bluesky/west/index.html

For the latest information on fire activity, conditions and prohibitions, visit: www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Fire Information Officer
Wildfire Management Branch
Northwest Fire Centre
250 847-6639