B.C. considers closing wide swath of backcountry because of wildfire risk
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — A mix of dry conditions and forecast lightning has officials in British Columbia considering closing access to a vast section of its backcountry to mitigate the wildfire risk.
Restrictions on access to all Crown land in the Cariboo fire centre would go into effect at noon on Friday as the province continues to battle what Premier John Horgan has said is the worst fire season since the 1950s. A final decision was scheduled to be made Friday morning.
There were 148 fires burning in the province on Thursday with the majority of new starts in recent days attributed to lightning.
B.C. Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said the increased threat of naturally caused fires means it’s more important than ever to prevent human-caused fires.