Public advised to remain vigilant of wildfire risks over the long weekend

Though there has been cooler, wetter weather recently, people are still asked to be very cautious to not start a wildfire over the Labour Day long weekend.

The province said despite the recent weather, much of B.C. remains very dry, including the Okanagan which was still listed at Drought Level 3 Thursday, August 28, and advised people to take steps to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires over the long weekend.

This can include being informed of local conditions, adhering to local fire bans and restrictions, being safe when having campfires, properly disposing of smoking materials, being cautious when using all-terrain vehicles or machinery that can produce sparks, and having emergency plans in place and sharing those with friends and family.

The province reminds people to report wildfires and open-burning violators to the B.C. Wildfire Service toll-free at 1-800-663-5555, on a cell phone at *5555, or by using the BCWS app.

As of noon Friday, August 30, there 240 active wildfires across B.C. None were classified as ‘Wildfire of Note’ but here were still 36 considered ‘Out of Control’.