VICTORIA - With 201 wildfires burning around B.C., the Province continues to caution all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and to report all wildfires to authorities.

New today:

• The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has rescinded the Evacuation Alert affecting the Penn West Wildboy Plant, due to the decreased threat of the Petitot River wildfire.
• The Regional District of Central Kootenay has rescinded the Evacuation Alert for residents between Enterprise Creek and Red Mountain Road due to reduced activity of the Mount Aylwin wildfire.
• The Regional District of Central Kootenay has rescinded the Evacuation Alert for residents near Sitkum Creek/Duhamel due to reduced activity of the Sitkum Creek wildfire.
• The Smoky Skies Advisory for the Northeast Region of British Columbia including both the North Peace and Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has ended due to improved air quality.

Update on fire activity and impacts:

There were 14 new wildfires in B.C. yesterday. As of 1 p.m. today, there were 201 active wildfires throughout the province (of these, 18 are active fires of note), with three states of local emergency due to wildfire, and seven Evacuation Alerts and Orders currently in effect.

As of July 14, approximately 115 properties in the province were on Evacuation Order with over 240 homes and an estimated 300 residents of Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek) First Nations on Evacuation Alert. These numbers will fluctuate as orders and alerts are put into place or rescinded. For all current Evacuation Alerts and Orders in B.C., please visit: www.emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca

Evacuation Orders currently exist in these areas:

• Cariboo Regional District affecting 89 properties due to the Puntzi Lake wildfire.
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, affecting three commercial properties and two recreational cabins due to the Boulder Creek wildfire.
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District affecting 21 recreational properties due to the Dog Mountain wildfire.

Evacuation Alerts exist in these areas:

• Sunshine Coast Regional District due to the Old Sechelt Mine wildfire, affecting 21 properties.
• Cariboo Regional District due to the Puntzi Lake wildfire northwest of Williams Lake, affecting 184 homes.
• Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek FN) due to the Puntzi Lake wildfire affecting an estimated 300 residents.
• Fraser Valley Regional District due to the Cougar Creek wildfire south of the Nahatlach River, affecting 38 recreational cabins and two commercial properties.

States of local emergency for wildfires exist in the following areas:

• Cariboo Regional District
• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District

Wildfire smoke advisories and air quality status:

The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with regional health authorities, has ended all Air Quality Advisories in the province as air quality has improved due to a change in weather. For information on current air quality readings in B.C. please visit: www.bcairquality.ca

Report all wildfires:

Human-caused wildfires are preventable and the public is B.C.’s first line of defence. Please be diligent when in the backcountry, and report all wildfires to 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your mobile phone.

Learn More:

To keep up-to-date on emergency notices, Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders, follow @EmergencyInfoBC (mobile.twitter.com) on Twitter.

Info on current wildfires and burning bans, as well as fire safety tips: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcwildfire/ and http://ow.ly/PfwC6

Help prevent wildfires and learn what to do to plan and respond to an Evacuation Alert or Order, visit: http://ow.ly/PoFVn

The Homeowner’s FireSmart Manual helps inform people on how to reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires: http://ow.ly/PfpqL

Media Contacts:

For wildfire information:
BC Wildfire Services
Media Relations
250 312-3051
or
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Media Relations
250 356-5261

For air quality questions:
Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834