The fall is approaching: As the Northwest Fire Centre experiences cooler weather throughout the region, the easier it is for crews to suppress fires in their early stages. Cold nights and dew in the morning also shortens the window for when a wildfire can burn vigorously. Because of the forecast cool and wet conditions, the open fire prohibitions will be lifted on August 31, 2012. Resources: Many of our firefighters are enrolled in university and are finishing their last week of work before returning to school. Around half of our firefighters are staying on until the end of September. They will be available to respond to fires, and will be doing fuels management work around the communities where they are located. The Terrace unit crew is currently working on a fire in the Cariboo Fire Centre. All other crews are currently based within the Northwest Fire Centre. Fires of note: The two fires of note within the region have received some rain and are being monitored. The fire that was burning near Morice Lake and Atna Lake is currently not causing the smoke issues it did when the fire was burning more intensely. This fire is estimated at 1,400 hectares in size, and the lat-est update can be read here. The other fire of note, burn-ing south of the Yukon bor-der and north of Boya Lake Park is around 3,500 hec-tares in size. It is contained to the west and south, while being allowed to expand to the northeast. The latest update for this fire is also found online.

Northwest Fire Centre update

2012.08.27

The Atna Lake fire grew to 1,400 hectares. This fire is located within a park, and is

not threatening any communities or resource values. Communities from Burns Lake to

Kitimat noticed smoke in the air from this fire last week.

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Precipitation

Temperature Relative Humidity

These maps are for informational purposes only and should not be used for operational decisions.

Fire Danger Rating

These maps are current for August 27, 2012.

For the most recent weather maps, please see www.bcwildfire.ca/weather

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Most recent forecast for

Northwest Fire Centre Valid as of 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 27, 2012 Synopsis for today and tomorrow: An upper low centre will bring cloud and showers to the south of the East and West zones today and spread northward tonight. Also tonight, a developing upper trough over the Gulf of Alaska will move into the North zone and bring rain to the North zone. Temperatures will cool from the upper teens in the East zone today and near 20 in the North today to the low to mid-teens on Tuesday. Outlook for Wednesday to Friday: The upper low and trough from the Gulf of Alaska will move inland and allow showers with cool temperatures on Wednesday. By Thursday and Friday, an upper ridge will move into the North zone and sink southward, bringing clear-ing and allowing temperatures to warm to the mid to upper teens on Thursday and then to the low 20s on Friday. Outlook for Saturday to a week from Wednesday: The ridge remains for Saturday, with highs in the low 20s for the East and West zones. Another upper trough will arrive in the North zone on Sunday and bring rain for all areas of the Fire Centre on Sunday and Monday. Tempera-tures will be very cool early next week, only reaching the low teens for all zones. An upper ridge will move back in late next week and allow tempera-tures to recover to the upper teens in the East and West. Venting: Smithers: Poor early this morning, becoming good by late morning with light southwest wind aloft. Falling to poor late in the evening. Smoke drift to the northeast. Confidence: Good. Very cool and wet for early in the work week and then

Northwest Fire

Centre Statistics

Since April 1, 2012:

Fires to date: 91

Hectares burned: 4,737

Person-caused fires: 28

Lightning-caused fires: 65

2011 at this time:

Fires to date: 18

Hectares burned: 11,009

Person-caused fires: 12

Lightning-caused fires: 5

2010 at this time:

Fires to date: 161

Hectares burned: 117,797

Person-caused fires: 56

Lightning-caused fires: 105

Visit our websites at bcwildfire.ca and emergencyinfobc.gov.bc.ca

Report a wildfire *5555 on a cell or 1-800-663-5555 Wildfire Information Line 1-888-3FOREST Burn Registration Line 1-888-797-1717 Northwest Fire Information Officer 1-250-847-6639

Important Numbers

Prohibition lifts on August 31, 2012

The open fire prohibition now in place will be lifted as of August 31, 2012. Until this time, all open fires are prohibited within the Northwest Fire Centre, with the exception of the former North Coast Forest District.

Specifically, this prohibits: the burning of any waste, slash or other material; the burning of stubble or grass; the use of fireworks or burning barrels of any size or description. This prohibition does not include campfires, gas or propane cooking stoves, or briquettes. Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres by 0.5 metres in size. This prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authori-ties for any other prohibi-tions before lighting a fire.

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BC Parks areas effected by the prohibition

Prohibition in effect for public and private land unless covered in another en-actment