Effective at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017, the general backcountry closure for the Cariboo Fire Centre was rescinded due to decreased wildfire risk.

Members of the public can once again access the majority of Crown land within the Cariboo Fire Centre.

A series of smaller area restrictions are now in place around some active wildfires to help protect public safety and allow fire suppression efforts to continue efficiently. In order for firefighting activities to continue safely and effectively, the public must stay clear of these operations.

People heading into the backcountry are reminded to remain vigilant and exercise caution. A campfire ban remains in effect and the off-road vehicle prohibition that was implemented throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre’s jurisdiction on Aug. 4, 2017, is still in effect. For more information, please visit: http://ow.ly/LVRt30eCGlM

The revised area restrictions are in place to help ensure public safety while minimizing their potential impact on recreational activities throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre.

The area restriction order applies to all Crown land within the geographic boundaries as outlined on the associated maps, but it does not include the foreshore or Crown land covered by water (i.e., public use of lakes and rivers that are not under an evacuation order is not restricted). The area restriction order also does not include private land, garbage dumps and transfer stations.

The following area restrictions will remain in effect until noon on Oct. 31, 2017, or until the area restriction order is otherwise rescinded.

1. Two area restrictions apply to Crown land within the perimeter of and within 10 kilometres immediately beyond the perimeters of the Hanceville-Riske Creek Fire (C50647) and the Plateau Complex (C10784, C10970 and C10966), formerly known separately as the Chezacut, Tautri, Bishop's Bluff, Baezaeko, Wentworth Creek, Arc Mountain and other fires.
2. One area restriction applies to Crown land within the perimeter of and within five kilometres immediately beyond the perimeter of the Colwell Lake/Kleena Kleene Fires (C50744 and C50934).
3. Nine area restrictions apply to Crown land within the perimeters of the following fires:

• Precipice (VA0778)
• Gustafson (C40621)
• Big Lake/Gavin Lake (C30870, C31005, C30887, C20906, C20894)
• Castle Rock/Twan Lake South (C10740)
• Quesnel Lake (C31008, C31169, C31156, C31348, C31161, C31306, C31489)
• Swift River (C31072)
• White Lake, Wildwood, Spokin Lake, Soda Creek (C20735, C20729, C20738, C20645)
• Green Mountain (C10683)
• Canim Lake (C41703, C41707)

Detailed maps to help the public locate these fire perimeters and the five-kilometre and 10-kilometre buffer zones are available online: http://ow.ly/Qe6w30eDreQ

For more information about the existing Elephant Hill area restriction, please visit: http://ow.ly/F1dT30eDthX

Under this area restriction order and the Wildfire Act, a person must not remain in or enter these restricted areas without the prior written authorization, unless the person enters the area only in the course of:

1. travelling to or from his or her residence that is not under an evacuation order;
2. using a highway as defined in the Transportation Act,
3. travelling as a person acting in an official capacity; and
4. travelling for the purpose of supporting wildfire suppression activities.

Evacuation orders and evacuation alerts issued by the Cariboo Regional District remain in place. For more information about these alerts and orders, please visit: http://ow.ly/9laX30ekdew

The Cariboo Fire Centre stretches from Loon Lake (near Clinton) in the south to the Cottonwood River (near Quesnel) in the north and from Tweedsmuir Provincial Park in the west to Wells Gray Provincial Park in the east.

To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

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