teamgrizzly
Member
- Nov 25, 1999
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These are copies of the latest press releases from the BC Government and the Ministry of Forests. Please read.
Mike / Team Grizzly
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BC Government Press Release
For Immediate Release
2003FOR0043-000773
Aug. 28, 2003
Ministry of Forests
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL RESTRICTED IN RESPONSE TO FIRE RISKS
VICTORIA – The government has upgraded a backcountry travel advisory issued last week to a backcountry travel restriction to reduce the risk of new human-caused fires in southern British Columbia, Forests Minister Michael de Jong announced today.
“Public safety comes first,” said de Jong. “With the continuing tinder dry conditions and extreme fire danger in British Columbia’s forests, the risks of allowing people into the backcountry in the Southern Interior and Southern Coast regions are just too great.”
The restriction order for Crown land covers the southern one-third of the province – from Clearwater south to the U.S. border and from south Vancouver Island east to the Alberta border. A map of the restricted area is available on the Ministry of Forests’ Web site at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/ Unlike the voluntary travel advisory issued last week, this travel restriction does not include the Cariboo region, since the forest fire risk has been downgraded there.
The restriction order, under section 84 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, covers all Crown land and Forest Service roads in the restricted areas. Private, municipal and First Nations reserve land are exempt from the order.
Forest Service roads accessing private property and commercial lodges remain open. As well, roads into provincial parks that are not closed remain open. All areas in provincial parks in the restricted areas are closed, except supervised camping and day use-areas.
“We are confident that outdoor enthusiasts understand the extreme risk and the need to prohibit access,” said Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Joyce Murray. “While the majority of our parks remain open, park visitors will have to limit their activities to supervised camping and day-use.”
“Although this is a serious move by the government, we are fully supportive and recognize that public safety and fire prevention are paramount at this time,” said Council of Forest Industries vice-president Peter Affleck.
B.C. Forest Service staff, conservation officers and volunteers will be patrolling the woods this weekend to inform people already in the backcountry of the new travel restriction.
The travel restriction comes into effect Friday, Aug. 29 at noon and remains in effect until Sept. 14, 2003, but may be extended if the extreme forest fire hazard rating continues. Violators may face penalties of $10,000 and six months imprisonment.
The B.C. Forest Service is also encouraging the public to report wildfires by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks. To report any suspicious activity, please call the above number (1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks) or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
A reward of up to $50,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in deliberately setting wildfires.Arson is a criminal offence and is punishable by significant fines and/or imprisonment.
For travel-related details and information on tourism and recreational options, travellers are advised to contact 1-800-hellobc or one of 100 visitor information centres located across the province.
For more information on the specific Forest Service road closures, see the Ministry of Forests Protection Branch Web site at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/ or contact the local forest district office. For specific fire ban, park and protected areas closures and restrictions information see the B.C. Parks Web site at wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Media contact:
Rena Kendall-Craden
Communications Manager
Ministry of Forests
250 387-8486
Max Cleeveley
Communications
ManagerMinistry of Water, Land and Air Protection
250 920-9203
Visit the province's Web site at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.
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Update: August 28,2003 @ 11:00 hours
Chilliwack Forest District Road Restrictions
Effective midnight July 31, 2003 the BC Forest Service Coastal Fire Centre prohibited campfire use on the coast, including the Chilliwack Forest District, until further notice. This action was due to the extreme dry and hot weather conditions.
Effective August 20, 2003, the province issued a travel advisory for forested and backcountry areas in the Coast and Southern Interior in order to reduce the risk of new human-caused fires.
The Chilliwack Forest District has closed a number of Forest Service Roads under the authority of Section 57 and 55 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. The road closures will remain in effect until the fire hazard is significantly reduced.
The following Forest Service Roads are hereby closed:
All forest roads in the Chilliwack River Valley
Anderson North
Anderson South
Blue Mountain
Bridal Falls
Chehalis
Florence Lake
Harrison East
Harrison West
Lost Creek
Norrish Creek
Fleetwood - NEW
Mount Woodside – NEW
Kookipi – NEW
Vedder – NEW
Vance – NEW
Upper Bench – NEW
Army Bench – NEW
Tamihi – NEW
Chipmunk – NEW
Ruby Creek - NEW
In addition, the following Forest Service camp sites are also closed:
20 Mile Bay
Bear Creek
Cascade Peninsula
Chehalis North
Chipmunk
Cogburn
Francis Lake
Grace Lake
Sunrise Lake
Skwellepil
Wale Creek
Wolf Lake
Wood Lake
All other recreation sites that are still open but subject to closure at anytime. Camping is restricted to designated campsites. Campers found in dispersed area will be requested to move to the supervised campsites.
BC Parks
Chilliwack Lake: All access to backcountry closed, campground and day-use areas open
Cultus Lake: Backcountry trails closed
Skagit Valley: All backcountry trails will be closed, road access to Ross Lake and the campgrounds remains open
Coquihalla Summit: Park is closed
For more information on the road closures, please contact the Chilliwack Forest District office at (604) 702-5700.
For more information on fires currently burning around the province visit the Wildfire News at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect
Mike / Team Grizzly
----
BC Government Press Release
For Immediate Release
2003FOR0043-000773
Aug. 28, 2003
Ministry of Forests
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
BACKCOUNTRY TRAVEL RESTRICTED IN RESPONSE TO FIRE RISKS
VICTORIA – The government has upgraded a backcountry travel advisory issued last week to a backcountry travel restriction to reduce the risk of new human-caused fires in southern British Columbia, Forests Minister Michael de Jong announced today.
“Public safety comes first,” said de Jong. “With the continuing tinder dry conditions and extreme fire danger in British Columbia’s forests, the risks of allowing people into the backcountry in the Southern Interior and Southern Coast regions are just too great.”
The restriction order for Crown land covers the southern one-third of the province – from Clearwater south to the U.S. border and from south Vancouver Island east to the Alberta border. A map of the restricted area is available on the Ministry of Forests’ Web site at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/ Unlike the voluntary travel advisory issued last week, this travel restriction does not include the Cariboo region, since the forest fire risk has been downgraded there.
The restriction order, under section 84 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, covers all Crown land and Forest Service roads in the restricted areas. Private, municipal and First Nations reserve land are exempt from the order.
Forest Service roads accessing private property and commercial lodges remain open. As well, roads into provincial parks that are not closed remain open. All areas in provincial parks in the restricted areas are closed, except supervised camping and day use-areas.
“We are confident that outdoor enthusiasts understand the extreme risk and the need to prohibit access,” said Water, Land and Air Protection Minister Joyce Murray. “While the majority of our parks remain open, park visitors will have to limit their activities to supervised camping and day-use.”
“Although this is a serious move by the government, we are fully supportive and recognize that public safety and fire prevention are paramount at this time,” said Council of Forest Industries vice-president Peter Affleck.
B.C. Forest Service staff, conservation officers and volunteers will be patrolling the woods this weekend to inform people already in the backcountry of the new travel restriction.
The travel restriction comes into effect Friday, Aug. 29 at noon and remains in effect until Sept. 14, 2003, but may be extended if the extreme forest fire hazard rating continues. Violators may face penalties of $10,000 and six months imprisonment.
The B.C. Forest Service is also encouraging the public to report wildfires by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks. To report any suspicious activity, please call the above number (1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on most cellular networks) or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
A reward of up to $50,000 is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in deliberately setting wildfires.Arson is a criminal offence and is punishable by significant fines and/or imprisonment.
For travel-related details and information on tourism and recreational options, travellers are advised to contact 1-800-hellobc or one of 100 visitor information centres located across the province.
For more information on the specific Forest Service road closures, see the Ministry of Forests Protection Branch Web site at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect/ or contact the local forest district office. For specific fire ban, park and protected areas closures and restrictions information see the B.C. Parks Web site at wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
Media contact:
Rena Kendall-Craden
Communications Manager
Ministry of Forests
250 387-8486
Max Cleeveley
Communications
ManagerMinistry of Water, Land and Air Protection
250 920-9203
Visit the province's Web site at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update: August 28,2003 @ 11:00 hours
Chilliwack Forest District Road Restrictions
Effective midnight July 31, 2003 the BC Forest Service Coastal Fire Centre prohibited campfire use on the coast, including the Chilliwack Forest District, until further notice. This action was due to the extreme dry and hot weather conditions.
Effective August 20, 2003, the province issued a travel advisory for forested and backcountry areas in the Coast and Southern Interior in order to reduce the risk of new human-caused fires.
The Chilliwack Forest District has closed a number of Forest Service Roads under the authority of Section 57 and 55 of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. The road closures will remain in effect until the fire hazard is significantly reduced.
The following Forest Service Roads are hereby closed:
All forest roads in the Chilliwack River Valley
Anderson North
Anderson South
Blue Mountain
Bridal Falls
Chehalis
Florence Lake
Harrison East
Harrison West
Lost Creek
Norrish Creek
Fleetwood - NEW
Mount Woodside – NEW
Kookipi – NEW
Vedder – NEW
Vance – NEW
Upper Bench – NEW
Army Bench – NEW
Tamihi – NEW
Chipmunk – NEW
Ruby Creek - NEW
In addition, the following Forest Service camp sites are also closed:
20 Mile Bay
Bear Creek
Cascade Peninsula
Chehalis North
Chipmunk
Cogburn
Francis Lake
Grace Lake
Sunrise Lake
Skwellepil
Wale Creek
Wolf Lake
Wood Lake
All other recreation sites that are still open but subject to closure at anytime. Camping is restricted to designated campsites. Campers found in dispersed area will be requested to move to the supervised campsites.
BC Parks
Chilliwack Lake: All access to backcountry closed, campground and day-use areas open
Cultus Lake: Backcountry trails closed
Skagit Valley: All backcountry trails will be closed, road access to Ross Lake and the campgrounds remains open
Coquihalla Summit: Park is closed
For more information on the road closures, please contact the Chilliwack Forest District office at (604) 702-5700.
For more information on fires currently burning around the province visit the Wildfire News at www.for.gov.bc.ca/protect