 |
|
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/
-30-
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
