With 159 wildfires burning throughout B.C., down from 166 on Thursday and 197 one week ago, the Province continues to caution all British Columbians to be diligent with fire safety and to report all wildfires to authorities.

With the onset of cool and wet weather, and a positive outlook for the containment of current fires, after today, the Province will be discontinuing daily wildfire information bulletins until or unless the wildfire risk increases.

New today:

While campfires are still banned in most regions, cooking stoves (including barbecues) that use gas, propane or briquettes are permitted. Portable campfire devices, with CSA or ULC ratings, using briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, are also permitted, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres.

Update on fire activity and impacts:

There were a total of 17 new wildfires in B.C. yesterday, compared to 12 new fires the day before. As of noon today, there were 159 active wildfires across the province (of these, 16 are active fires of note), with three states of local emergency due to wildfire, and seven Evacuation Alerts or Orders currently in effect.

As of July 17, approximately 96 properties in the province are on Evacuation Order with over 200 homes and an estimated 300 residents of Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek) First Nation 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 These numbers will fluctuate as orders and alerts are put into place or rescinded.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 70 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 149 homes
• Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek) First Nation 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.

Learn More:

To keep up-to-date on emergency notices, Evacuation Alerts and Evacuation Orders, follow @EmergencyInfoBC (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

New potential penalties for careless wildfire starters: http://ow.ly/PHSvw

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:

BC Wildfire Service
Media Relations
250 312-3051

Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
Media Relations
250 356-5261