RDCK encourages residents following provincial state of emergency
By Nelson Daily Staff
After Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Emergency Management BC, announced a provincial state of emergency Friday, the Regional District of Central Kootenay has sent out its own release asking the public to be ready in case wildfires strike the region.
In a release Saturday, RDCK informed residents that the BC Provincial Government has declared a provincial state of local emergency due to the current wildfire situation and the expected increase in wildfire activity.
For more information regarding the provincial state of emergency, visit this link.
The RDCK is advising the public of the currently a campfire ban throughout the Southeast Fire Centre in order to reduce the risk of human-case wildfires and to protect public safety. The current hot and dry weather conditions have resulted in “high” or “extreme” fire danger ratings throughout the region.
The wildfire situation in the Thompson and Cariboo regions of the province forced cvacuation alerts and orders have been issued for 105 Mile House, 108 Mile House, Ashcroft, Cache Creek and Princeton. This is an urgent situation and public safety is the top priority. The Province will continue to keep the public informed in this rapidly evolving situation.
The extended weather forecast is calling for continued hot, dry weather, with risks of thunderstorms in many parts of the province.
For more information regarding current wildfire activity and burning restrictions, visit: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status
To report a wildfire or open burning violation, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cellphone.
The RDCK’s encourages residents to assemble a 72 hour GRAB & GO emergency kit in the event of an emergency. And if you haven’t already, please sign up for the RDCK’s FREE Emergency Notification System .
The state of emergency gives agencies such as Emergency Management BC, the Fire Commissioner, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and the RCMP authority under the Emergency Program Act to take every action necessary to fight these wildfires and protect residents and their communities.
