CAR CRAZY PAGE A3
READY FOR RELAY PAGE A15
‘ROOS REMEMBERED PAGE A17
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, May 18, 2012
VOL. 98 NO. 74
$ 34
1
www.quesnelobserver.com
includes HST
Almost Kiana Mero, QRP first base player makes a long stretch in an attempt to save her base from Avery Baptista of Crystal Glass during Monday night softball at West Fraser Timber Park. Karen Powell photo
Fire season already underway Open fire prohibition in effect, hefty fines in place AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter With 35 fires so far this season – all human caused – the Cariboo Fire Centre is stressing the open fire prohibition. “Carelessness of use,� fire information officer Jenny Fremlin said, to describe the reasons for the flames. The 35 fires account for 146 hectares, two blazes have been within the
Quesnel area. The Cariboo Fire Centre covers an area of about 10.3 million hectares, stretching from Clinton, north to the Cottonwood River, east to Wells Gray Provincial Park and west to Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. “The Quesnel area coverage goes from Loon Lake to north of the Cottonwood River,� Fremlin explained. The Cariboo Fire Centre is divided into two main
Dr. Michael Duperron QUESNEL CHIROPRACTIC &
Sarah Honey
REGISTERED MASSAGE THERAPIST
NEW LOCATION 274 Reid Street 250-992-5110
climatic belts: the western dry belt and the eastern wet belt. “The dry belt ranges from sagebrush with lone Douglas firs to thinly grassed meadows to wellspaced lodgepole pine, Douglas fir and spruce,� the Wildfire Management Branch details. “The eastern wet belt has extensive cedar, hemlock, spruce and balsam. Between these two areas there is a transition
zone, roughly between the Fraser River and Highway 97.� Fremlin said most of the outcome of fire season is determined by “June rains,� but hopes residents will take the open fire prohibition seriously – especially with the long weekend. “Specifically, it is prohibited to have two open fires, one metre by one metre going at the same time,� she said.
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber Brenda Lewis! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
Fremlin added fire officers have been issuing tickets. Violations range from $345 to $1000,000 and one year in jail if convicted in court. Further, a number of Wildfire Act violations hold stiff fines and penalties. Common infractions in which violation tickets can be issued are: • failure to report a fire – $115 • drop, release or mishandling a burning sub-
stance – $173 • failure to extinguish a burning substance – $173 • lighting, fueling or using fire against restrictions - $345 • failure to comply with a fire restriction – $345 • failure to have eight litres of water or a firefighting handtool – $345 “People need to be vigilant with their fire use,â€? Fremlin said. “Stay within the parameters.â€?
"%7&/563& /035) " '-*()5 $&/53& "440$*"5&
Deb Quick, Travel Consultant
250-992-5169 in Quesnel %FCCJF 2VJDL
Deb Quick your Flight Centre Associate - a full service travel agent right here in Quesnel!
5SBWFM $POTVMUBOU 1 5PMM 'SFF ' & EFC RVJDL !ĂĄJHIUDFOUSFBTTPDJBUFT DPN ĂĄJHIwww.AskDeb.ca UDFOUSFBTTPDJBUFT DPN "EWFOUVSF/PSUI
BCReg#23929