DAILY INTELLIGENCE LOG

STRUCTURE DEFENCE

British Columbia & Alberta

Friday, September 4, 2026

Information current as of approximately 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

Wildfire conditions, evacuation boundaries, road access, restrictions and recovery hazards can change quickly.

Official instructions from the responsible local government, First Nation, emergency authority or transportation agency always take priority.

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STRUCTURE DEFENCE TAKEAWAY

Here’s what we know:

The strongest operational development since yesterday is another significant reduction in evacuation pressure.

At 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District downgraded the remaining Pear Lake Evacuation Order to Evacuation Alert.

That means there is no longer an active Pear Lake Evacuation Order within the SLRD.

The Pear Lake Alert remains.

This follows the earlier rescindment of Bonanza Creek and Riley Creek evacuation measures and represents another meaningful step away from the widespread evacuation environment that defined much of August.

Elsewhere, the wildfire picture remains mixed but generally favourable.

Spuzzum First Nation remains under Evacuation Alert after its previous Orders were downgraded.

EmergencyInfoBC continues to list several other First Nations wildfire emergencies, including Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation, Coldwater Indian Band, Okanagan Indian Band and Llenllenéy’ten.

Some of those jurisdiction-specific updates are several days old. Where a fresh September 4 boundary could not be independently verified, older reserve-by-reserve details are not being repeated as though they are current.

Bald Range remains firmly in recovery.

The RDOS continues working on property access, water protection, utilities, cleanup and longer-term support around Faulder and South Meadow Valley.

The Bald Range Area Restriction remains scheduled through September 12 unless rescinded earlier.

Princeton-Summerland Road remains closed to through traffic in the latest RDOS information.

Ainslie Creek remains an important Fraser Canyon wildfire and recovery environment.

Its BC Wildfire Service Area Restriction remains scheduled through September 15 unless rescinded earlier.

The Fraser Valley Regional District rescinded its remaining wildfire Evacuation Alert Thursday afternoon.

Highway 1 is open through the Fraser Canyon, but post-fire road, tree, slope and utility hazards remain relevant.

In Alberta, no new significant wildfire evacuation emergency was identified during this morning’s scan.

The most important Alberta development today is actually weather rather than wildfire spread.

Grande Prairie and surrounding areas are under a rainfall warning after receiving approximately 50 to 60 millimetres of rain by Friday morning, with another 10 to 25 millimetres forecast today.

Here’s what we’re watching:

The broad fire-weather environment is cool and wet.

Clinton is forecast around 14°C today with 10 to 20 millimetres of rain.

Cranbrook is near 19°C after morning showers, with more unsettled weather through the weekend.

The South Okanagan is around 19°C with a chance of showers.

Grande Prairie is near 14°C with heavy rain and north winds gusting around 50 km/h.

These conditions strongly favour reduced short-term fire-weather pressure.

The next meaningful watch period will come after the moisture:

• How much rain actually reached active fire perimeters

• Whether deeper hotspots respond

• Whether holdover lightning fires emerge as fuels dry again

• How quickly fine fuels recover after several cool, wet days

Here’s why it matters:

The wildfire picture is clearly changing phase.

The immediate question is increasingly less about large-scale evacuation expansion and more about:

• Mop-up

• Re-entry

• Infrastructure restoration

• Property access

• Deep hotspots

• Burned trees and slopes

• Human-caused ignition as restrictions ease

That is meaningful progress.

It does not mean wildfire season is finished.

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TODAY'S CONDITIONS

PEAR LAKE — SOUTH CARIBOO / SLRD ELECTORAL AREA B

Here’s what we know:

Pear Lake recorded the most important evacuation change since yesterday.

Effective 5:00 p.m. Thursday, September 3, the SLRD downgraded the remaining Evacuation Order to Evacuation Alert.

The Alert that was already in place around other Pear Lake properties also remains active.

As a result, no Pear Lake properties within the SLRD remain under Evacuation Order.

Residents within the Alert area should still be prepared to leave on short notice if conditions change.

Recovery work continues in areas that were previously evacuated.

SLRD staff conducted door-to-door recovery outreach Thursday.

A free fridge and freezer collection is scheduled today for affected Area B residents.

Weather is favourable.

Clinton forecast:

• High approximately 14°C

• Periods of rain

• Local rainfall amount approximately 10 to 20 mm

• North wind around 20 km/h

Saturday remains cool around 15°C with a chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms later in the day.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Whether the Pear Lake Alert can be rescinded

• Actual rainfall totals

• Deep-hotspot response

• Rural road conditions

• Ranch and livestock recovery

• Burned-slope runoff

• Saturday thunderstorm potential

Here’s why it matters:

Moving from Order to Alert is a significant operational milestone.

It means officials have determined the immediate danger has decreased enough for residents to return.

It does not mean the wildfire is extinguished or that every post-fire hazard has disappeared.

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FRASER CANYON — AINSLIE CREEK / SPUZZUM

Here’s what we know:

The Fraser Canyon continues transitioning from evacuation response toward suppression and recovery.

Spuzzum First Nation remains under Evacuation Alert following the earlier downgrade of its Orders.

The Fraser Valley Regional District rescinded its remaining wildfire Evacuation Alert Thursday at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Ainslie Creek remains subject to a BC Wildfire Service Area Restriction through September 15 unless rescinded earlier.

Highway 1 remains open through the canyon.

However, travellers may still encounter:

• Traffic control

• Utility restoration

• Danger-tree work

• Rockfall or slope work

• Temporary delays

• Wildfire suppression activity

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Spuzzum Alert rescindment

• Ainslie Creek suppression progress

• Highway 1 operating conditions

• Hazard trees

• Rockfall

• Burned-slope stability

• Utility restoration

Here’s why it matters:

This is increasingly a post-fire infrastructure environment.

The absence of a broad Evacuation Order does not mean the landscape or highway corridor has returned to normal.

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BALD RANGE — FAULDER / SOUTH MEADOW VALLEY / SUMMERLAND

Here’s what we know:

Bald Range remains predominantly a recovery operation.

The latest RDOS update continues to focus on:

• Re-entry support

• Cleanup

• Insurance and rebuilding

• Faulder Water System protection

• Meadow Valley Aquifer protection

• Utility restoration

• Property access

• Long-term recovery support

The RDOS has specifically asked property owners in the Faulder area to protect the water system and aquifer from contamination during cleanup and rebuilding activities.

That is now an important wildfire-recovery concern.

The Bald Range Area Restriction remains active and is currently scheduled through noon September 12 unless rescinded earlier.

Princeton-Summerland Road remains closed to through traffic in the latest RDOS road information.

Weather remains favourable for suppression.

South Okanagan conditions:

• High approximately 19°C

• 30% chance of showers

• Light to moderate winds

• Cool overnight temperatures

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Faulder Water System

• Meadow Valley Aquifer protection

• Princeton-Summerland Road reopening

• Hazard trees

• Deep hotspots

• Debris removal

• Utility restoration

• Bald Range Area Restriction

Here’s why it matters:

This is what the next stage of wildfire resilience looks like.

Fire behaviour may no longer dominate the operational picture.

Water contamination, damaged utilities, access, debris and safe rebuilding can become the more important risks.

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FIRST NATIONS WILDFIRE MEASURES

Here’s what we know:

Several First Nations wildfire emergencies remain listed by EmergencyInfoBC.

Current listings include:

• Spuzzum First Nation — updated September 2

• Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation — updated August 31

• Coldwater Indian Band — updated August 29

• Okanagan Indian Band — updated August 28

• Llenllenéy’ten / High Bar First Nation — updated August 28

• Lytton First Nation — updated August 31

• Lower Nicola Indian Band — older active listing

• Nooaitch Indian Band — older active listing

The freshness of those updates varies significantly.

For that reason, this report does not reproduce older reserve-by-reserve evacuation boundaries unless they have been freshly confirmed.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Fresh First Nations rescindments

• Order-to-Alert downgrades

• Road restoration

• Utility restoration

• Community re-entry

• Weather effects on remaining wildfire perimeters

Here’s why it matters:

First Nations jurisdictions remain operationally important even when larger regional-district evacuation footprints are shrinking.

Freshness matters.

A week-old evacuation boundary should not be presented with the same certainty as one updated yesterday.

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SOUTH CARIBOO

Here’s what we know:

The South Cariboo is receiving meaningful rain today.

Clinton is forecast to receive approximately 10 to 20 millimetres.

Temperatures remain near 14°C.

That is one of the more favourable fire-weather combinations seen in the region this season.

The broader Cariboo emergency picture has also been contracting.

Several previous evacuation areas have already moved toward Alert or All Clear.

However, EmergencyInfoBC still lists active Cariboo Regional District and Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation wildfire emergencies.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Measured rainfall

• Deep-fire response

• Remote road conditions

• Remaining evacuation measures

• Saturday thunderstorm risk

• Fine-fuel drying once sunshine returns

Here’s why it matters:

Ten to twenty millimetres of rain can materially change surface-fuel conditions.

It does not instantly extinguish deep-burning roots, duff or heavy woody material.

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SOUTHEAST BRITISH COLUMBIA

Here’s what we know:

The Southeast remains cool and moist.

At Cranbrook Airport this morning:

• Temperature approximately 8°C

• Relative humidity approximately 97%

• Light wind

Forecast:

• High approximately 19°C

• A few showers ending this morning

• 30% chance of additional showers this afternoon

Saturday:

• High approximately 17°C

• 60% chance of showers

Sunday:

• Rain

• High approximately 15°C

The Category 1 campfire prohibition has already been rescinded.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Multi-day rainfall

• Existing wildfire hotspots

• Holdover-fire detections

• Campfire-related human-caused starts

• Remaining Area Restrictions

Here’s why it matters:

This is a sustained suppression-friendly weather pattern.

But the return of legal campfires means human-caused ignition prevention remains relevant even as natural fire-weather pressure declines.

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ALBERTA — GRANDE PRAIRIE AND NORTHWEST

Here’s what we know:

No significant new wildfire evacuation emergency was identified in Alberta during this morning’s scan.

The dominant operational development is heavy rainfall.

Environment Canada has a rainfall warning in effect for the County of Grande Prairie near Grande Prairie and Wembley.

By Friday morning:

• Approximately 50 to 60 mm had already fallen.

• Another 10 to 25 mm is expected today.

Current Grande Prairie conditions around 9:00 a.m. MDT:

• Approximately 10°C

• Relative humidity approximately 94%

• North-northwest wind around 33 km/h

• Gusts approximately 46 km/h

Forecast high:

• Approximately 14°C

The rain is expected to end this evening.

Environment Canada warns of:

• Water pooling on roads

• Low-lying flooding

• Washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts

• Possible property impacts

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Rainfall totals

• Road and culvert impacts

• Alberta wildfire danger response

• Existing fire suppression progress

• Any new Alberta Emergency Alert

• Post-rain drying beginning Sunday

Here’s why it matters:

For wildfire operations, this is strongly favourable weather.

For transportation and property access, the same rain creates a different operational concern.

Heavy rainfall can reduce wildfire risk while increasing flooding and washout risk.

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ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS

HEAT AND CONSECUTIVE HOT DAYS

Here’s what we know:

There is no meaningful heat signal in the priority wildfire regions today.

Representative highs:

• South Okanagan — approximately 19°C

• Clinton — approximately 14°C

• Cranbrook — approximately 19°C

• Grande Prairie — approximately 14°C

This is not simply the end of one hot afternoon.

Several regions are now experiencing multiple consecutive cool days.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Duration of the cool pattern

• Overnight humidity recovery

• Rewarming next week

• Fine-fuel response after the rain stops

Here’s why it matters:

Several consecutive cool, moist days have much more fire-weather value than a single cooler afternoon.

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RAINFALL AND PROLONGED DRYNESS

Here’s what we know:

Rainfall is the dominant environmental indicator today.

South Cariboo:

• Approximately 10 to 20 mm forecast around Clinton

Southeast:

• Recent showers

• More shower potential through Saturday

• Rain forecast Sunday

Grande Prairie:

• Approximately 50 to 60 mm already received

• Another 10 to 25 mm expected today

South Okanagan:

• Lighter and more scattered shower potential

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Final rainfall totals

• Active-fire perimeter coverage

• Soil and duff penetration

• Deep-hotspot response

• Runoff and erosion

Here’s why it matters:

The difference between light showers and sustained wetting is significant.

Surface grass may respond within hours.

Large woody fuels, deep organic layers and seasonal drought respond much more slowly.

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DROUGHT CODE AND FIRE-WEATHER INDICATORS

Here’s what we know:

Current weather should substantially improve short-duration fire-weather indicators where meaningful rainfall is occurring.

Fine Fuel Moisture Code responds relatively quickly to:

• Rain

• High humidity

• Cool temperatures

• Cloud cover

Buildup Index and especially Drought Code respond more slowly.

No single authoritative Drought Code value responsibly represents the Okanagan, Cariboo, Fraser Canyon, Southeast and Alberta reporting regions.

This report therefore does not publish a broad regional Drought Code figure.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Station-level Drought Code

• Buildup Index

• Fine Fuel Moisture Code

• Overnight humidity recovery

• Multi-day rainfall accumulation

• Deep-fire response

Here’s why it matters:

Wet grass does not necessarily mean deep seasonal drought has disappeared.

Surface and deep fuels operate on different timelines.

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WIND

Here’s what we know:

There is no widespread extreme B.C. wind event today.

Grande Prairie is the strongest verified wind signal among the priority regions this morning.

Observed:

• North-northwest approximately 33 km/h

• Gusts approximately 46 km/h

Forecast gusts may reach around 50 km/h.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Tree failure

• Waterlogged soil combined with wind

• Smoke movement

• Remaining fire edges

• Utility impacts

Here’s why it matters:

Wind remains relevant even when wildfire spread potential is low.

Wet ground combined with weakened or fire-damaged trees can create additional hazards.

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LIGHTNING AND HOLDOVER-FIRE POTENTIAL

Here’s what we know:

There is no major lightning outbreak affecting the primary reporting regions this morning.

Saturday brings some renewed thunderstorm potential in portions of the South Cariboo.

The more important current concern remains holdover detection from previous lightning.

Here’s what we’re watching:

• New smoke after several wet days

• Saturday lightning

• Holdover fires appearing once fuels dry again

• New Initial Attack incidents

Here’s why it matters:

Rain can suppress a concealed lightning ignition without necessarily extinguishing it.

The first warmer, sunnier period after a wet spell is often worth watching closely.

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GRASS CURING AND HUMAN ACTIVITY

Here’s what we know:

Cured grass remains present throughout Interior landscapes.

Rain changes its moisture content.

It does not remove the fuel.

At the same time, broad Category 1 campfire prohibitions have now been rescinded across:

• Kamloops Fire Centre

• Cariboo Fire Centre

• Southeast Fire Centre

• Coastal Fire Centre

Category 2 and Category 3 restrictions remain in many areas.

As legal campfire activity increases, individual behaviour becomes more important again.

Common ignition sources include:

• Unattended campfires

• Campfires not fully extinguished

• Hot exhaust systems over cured vegetation

• Trailer chains dragging on pavement

• Agricultural or industrial machinery

• Smoking materials

Here’s what we’re watching:

• Campfire-related starts

• Weekend recreation

• Roadside starts

• Equipment-related ignitions

• Compliance with continuing larger-open-fire prohibitions

Here’s why it matters:

Improving weather allows restrictions to ease.

That transfers more wildfire-prevention responsibility back to the public.

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RESTRICTIONS AND PROHIBITIONS

Here’s what we know:

KAMLOOPS FIRE CENTRE

Category 1 campfires are now permitted.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

CARIBOO FIRE CENTRE

Category 1 campfires are now permitted.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

SOUTHEAST FIRE CENTRE

Category 1 campfires are permitted.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited.

COASTAL FIRE CENTRE

Category 1 campfires are now permitted throughout the Fire Centre.

Category 2 and Category 3 open fires remain prohibited except in the Haida Gwaii Forest District, where those prohibitions have also been rescinded.

BALD RANGE

The Area Restriction remains scheduled through noon September 12 unless rescinded earlier.

AINSLIE CREEK

The Area Restriction remains scheduled through noon September 15 unless rescinded earlier.

72-HOUR FORWARD SCAN

No new broad wildfire prohibition scheduled to take effect between September 4 and September 7 was identified during this morning’s authoritative-source scan.

The current policy direction continues to favour selective rescindment rather than new broad restrictions.

Here’s why it matters:

Restrictions are increasingly localized and activity-specific.

A campfire may now be legal while a larger burn remains prohibited.

A wildfire may be largely stabilized while public entry around it remains restricted.

Always check both the location and the activity.

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HOMEOWNER IMPLICATIONS

For residents moving from Evacuation Order to Alert:

• Return only when your responsible authority permits it.

• Keep evacuation supplies accessible.

• Keep vehicles fuelled.

• Do not assume the Alert is merely administrative.

• Watch for damaged roads, trees, utilities and water systems.

For residents returning to wildfire-affected properties:

• Check drinking-water advisories.

• Treat damaged electrical infrastructure as energized until confirmed otherwise.

• Watch for burned roots and unstable trees.

• Avoid ash pits and fire-damaged ground.

• Be cautious around slopes, culverts and drainage channels after heavy rain.

• Expect utility, wildfire and recovery crews.

For homeowners outside current emergency areas:

The present cool and wet period is a useful maintenance opportunity.

Consider:

• Cleaning roofs and gutters.

• Removing combustible debris immediately beside structures.

• Trimming cured grass.

• Checking pumps, hoses and fittings.

• Replenishing evacuation supplies.

• Confirming current restrictions before burning.

These actions improve readiness.

They are not predictions and cannot guarantee structure survival.

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WHAT CHANGED SINCE YESTERDAY

PEAR LAKE — MAJOR EVACUATION IMPROVEMENT

• The remaining SLRD Evacuation Order was downgraded to Evacuation Alert at 5:00 p.m. September 3.

• No Pear Lake Evacuation Order remains within the SLRD.

• An Evacuation Alert remains in effect.

FRASER VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT

• The remaining wildfire Evacuation Alert was rescinded September 3 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

• The FVRD wildfire evacuation event is now listed as expired by EmergencyInfoBC.

SPUZZUM FIRST NATION

• The Evacuation Alert remains in effect following the earlier downgrade from Order.

BALD RANGE

• Recovery remains the primary operational focus.

• RDOS is emphasizing protection of the Faulder Water System and Meadow Valley Aquifer during cleanup and rebuilding.

• Princeton-Summerland Road remains closed to through traffic in the latest local information.

• Bald Range Area Restriction remains active.

WEATHER — SOUTH CARIBOO

• The cool pattern has strengthened.

• Clinton is forecast near 14°C today.

• Approximately 10 to 20 mm of rain is expected.

WEATHER — SOUTHEAST

• Cranbrook is approximately 8°C with 97% relative humidity this morning.

• Additional showers remain possible today.

• Wet weather continues through the weekend.

ALBERTA — MAJOR WEATHER CHANGE

• Grande Prairie is under a rainfall warning.

• Approximately 50 to 60 mm had already fallen by Friday morning.

• Another 10 to 25 mm is forecast today.

• Temperatures are near 14°C.

• North winds may gust around 50 km/h.

SIGNIFICANT-INCIDENT SCAN

• No major new rapidly expanding community-threatening wildfire was identified overnight.

• No new major highway closure caused by wildfire was identified in the priority regions.

• No significant new Alberta wildfire evacuation emergency was identified.

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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING NEXT

• Pear Lake Alert and eventual rescindment

• Spuzzum First Nation Alert

• Fresh updates from remaining First Nations wildfire emergencies

• Cariboo emergency measures

• Bald Range recovery

• Faulder Water System and Meadow Valley Aquifer

• Princeton-Summerland Road reopening

• Bald Range Area Restriction

• Ainslie Creek Area Restriction

• Highway 1 Fraser Canyon recovery operations

• South Cariboo rainfall totals

• Grande Prairie final rainfall totals

• Road and culvert washouts in northwestern Alberta

• Deep-hotspot response after several cool, wet days

• Saturday thunderstorm potential

• Holdover-fire emergence after the wet period

• Station-level Drought Code and Buildup Index trends

• Campfire-related human-caused starts as restrictions ease

• Any new B.C. or Alberta significant wildfire incident

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STRUCTURE DEFENCE TAKEAWAY — BOTTOM LINE

Here’s what we know:

September 4 brings another meaningful reduction in wildfire emergency pressure.

Pear Lake no longer has an Evacuation Order within the SLRD.

The Fraser Valley Regional District has rescinded its remaining wildfire Alert.

Bonanza Creek and Riley Creek evacuation measures are already gone.

Bald Range is firmly in recovery.

And a cool, wet weather pattern is affecting several important wildfire regions.

Those are significant improvements.

Here’s what we’re watching:

The most important short-term variable is now moisture.

Ten to twenty millimetres is forecast around Clinton.

The Southeast remains wet through the weekend.

Grande Prairie has already received roughly 50 to 60 millimetres, with more falling today.

That should substantially reduce short-term wildfire pressure where the rain reaches active fire areas.

But the next useful intelligence will come after the rain.

We will watch:

How quickly fine fuels dry.

Whether deep hotspots remain active.

Whether concealed lightning starts emerge.

And whether increased campfire activity produces preventable human-caused starts as restrictions continue to ease.

Here’s why it matters:

The wildfire season is not ending in one dramatic moment.

It is unwinding in layers.

Evacuation Orders become Alerts.

Alerts are rescinded.

Roads reopen.

Restrictions ease.

Firefighters move deeper into mop-up.

Communities shift from emergency response toward rebuilding.

That progression is clearly underway.

The useful response is not complacency.

It is to use favourable conditions well.

For firefighters, that means securing remaining fire.

For affected communities, it means restoring water, roads, utilities and safe access.

For homeowners, it means doing the small pieces of property work that are easiest to complete when wildfire pressure is lower.

Indicators describe conditions.

They do not predict what an individual wildfire will do next.

Official emergency instructions always take priority.

Wildfire resilience starts before wildfire arrives.

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SOURCES

• BC Wildfire Service

• BC Wildfire Service Wildfire Dashboard

• BC Wildfire Service Prohibitions and Restrictions

• EmergencyInfoBC

• Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

• Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen

• Fraser Valley Regional District

• Spuzzum First Nation

• Cariboo Regional District

• DriveBC

• Environment and Climate Change Canada

• Alberta Wildfire

• Alberta Emergency Alert

• Alberta Fire Bans