Aboriginal celebration in barkerville
PAGE A3
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Gallery show tells stories PAGE A12
VOL. 101 NO. 88
Public first line of defence against forest fires
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sealions triumph PAGE A17
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AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter Patrols will be ongoing throughout the Cariboo to ensure total compliance with the campfire ban. A province-wide open campfire ban came into effect Friday, July 3, to “prevent human-caused fires and protect public safety.” “Over the weekend, the Conservation Officer Service conducted patrols on behalf of the Cariboo Fire Centre checking 72 campsites,” fire information officer, Emily Epp said. “They found six campfires, which resulted in one warning ticket and verbal requests for compliance. A light-handed approach was used this weekend in the Cariboo since the prohibition came into effect on Friday and people may have not been aware of the campfire ban. “However, these patrols will be ongoing throughout the summer and the campfire ban will be fully enforced.” The ban includes: open fires of any kind, the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches, burning barrels or burning cages, the use of binary exploding targets and the use of air curtain burners. The ban does not include cooking stoves using gas, propane, or briquettes. Since July 2 The Cariboo Fire Centre has responded to 18 wildfires, all but one caused by lightening. Three of those fires were discovered Monday, while the remainder are out or in the patrol stage. “The largest of the three active fires is two hectares in size on the southeastern side of Horsefly Lake,” Epp said. “Airtankers surrounded the fire with retardant to support ground crews. Six firefighters and a helicopter are working on the fire. As of Tuesday morning, there will be 12 fire fighters and two helicopters on scene. The cause of this fire is under investigation.” The other two fires, Epp said, were small lighteningcaused. One is located east of the 108 Mile Airport, it is five by five metres; the other is near Lonne Butte, it is half a hectare in size. Crews are on scene. “Human-caused wildfires divert critical resources away from naturally-occurring fires and they are completely preventable,” Epp said. “With this in mind, the BC Wildfire Service cannot stress enough that the public is our first line of defence against forest fires.” To report a wildfires, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your mobile phone.
At long last Specialty crews from Prince George removed asbestos and sharps from the Brown Cabins before tearing them down and trucking the toxic debris away. The cost for tear down will be added to the owner’s 2015 tax bill. The owner has three years to pay, failure to do so results in the city taking over the property. Autumn MacDonald photo
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