Public Asked To Stay Out Of Back Country

If you were planning to visit the back country this long weekend, you might want to change your plans.

The province is strongly recommending the public stay out of those areas in the Kamloops, Cariboo and Southeast Fire Centres due to the ongoing warm, dry weather and the high wildfire danger.

Kevin Skrepnek from the BC Wildfire Service says they are not implementing a full back country closure.

“We are trying to strike a bit of a balance in terms of disruption, but we want to make clear to people, given the weather forecast, it is going to be volatile out there.”

John Hawkings with Recreation Sites and Trails BC, says visitors currently camping and using recreational sites in those three centres are being encouraged to leave.

Hawkings says over 200 recreation sites and trails are currently closed in the Kamloops and Cariboo Fire Centres.

The BC Conservation Service says officers have issued 37 tickets in the last week to people found having campfires — even though there is a ban in place.

Pictured: Kevin Skrepnek of the BC Wildfire Service