Summer has arrived!

After a bleak and rainy spring, a ridge of high pres-sure is bringing warm and dry weather to the re-gion. The forecast for warmer and drier weather means that the forest fuels are going to start drying out, increasing the risk of forest fires.

Prohibitions:

Currently there are no prohibitions on the use of campfires or open burning within the Northwest Fire Centre. If current weather continues, the Northwest Fire Centre could potentially implement an open fire prohibition as early as next Thursday July 12. Check out bcwildfire.ca for the latest prohi-bitions.

Resources:

All Northwest Fire Centre staff are currently located within the region. So far this year, crews have been

Northwest Fire Centre update

In addition to deployments to Ontario and the

Yukon, crews in the Northwest have been keep-

ing busy with training and fuels management

work.

In June, 10 firefighters from the region competed

in the B.C. Fire Suppression Olympics, which saw

firefighters from as far away as Nova Scotia com-

pete in challenges, from digging a fire guard, to

building a survival shelter for five people. The

Rangers team from Telkwa (pictured at right)

won bronze overall at the competition.

Other news from the fire centre

2012.07.06

deployed to Ontario and the Yukon to assist with fire suppression efforts. However, they have all re-turned home.

This year, the initial attack crew normally based out of Dease Lake is instead positioned in Houston. This means that the situation in the Cassiar Zone is continuously monitored and crews are rotated to Dease Lake, Watson Lake and Atlin depending on the conditions.

Provincially:

Although this has been a quiet fire season so far across the province, the Wildfire Management Branch is preparing for an increase in activity due to the warm, dry weather forecasted for the com-ing weeks.

P A G E 2

Precipitation

Temperature Relative Humidity

These graphs are for informational purposes only and should not be used to base operational decisions

Fire Danger Rating

These maps are current for July 6, 2012.

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

P A G E 3

Most recent forecast for North West

Valid as of 8 am Friday July 6, 2012 Synopsis for today and tomorrow: A ridge of high pressure will give mainly sunny skies to most areas today. The exception is on the coast where an offshore distur-bance will bring increasing cloud with some showers likely on Haidi Gwaii this after-noon. The system will spread a chance of showers to the west zone tonight and Saturday. Expect an increase in cloud elsewhere in the fire centre but staying dry. Highs in the low to mid twenties today, upper teens to low twenties on Saturday. Winds will be fairly light both days except some gustiness possible Saturday after-noon. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday: A strong upper ridge of high pressure lying over eastern BC will give mainly sunny skies to all areas on Sunday. Some cloud and a chance of showers on the outer coast, otherwise sunny skies continuing on Mon-day. A trough of low pressure will bring increasing cloud and a chance of showers to western areas on Tuesday. Dry conditions prevailing to the east. Some gusty winds are likely with this system. Highs in the low to mid twenties through the period except cooler on the coast. Outlook for Wednesday to a week from Sunday: A dry southwest flow aloft will give mainly sunny skies Wednesday and Thursday. An increase in cloud and chance of showers Friday through Sunday as a trough of low pressure moves through. Highs in the mid twenties Wednesday and Thursday cooling a few degrees Friday through Sunday. EAST ZONE (KISPIOX TO BURNS LAKE) Today.. Sunny with cloudy periods. Wind southeast to south 10 to 15 km/h. Mini-mum RH 28 to 40%. Highs 22 to 25. Tomorrow.. Cloudy with sunny periods. Winds southeast to south 10 to 15 km/h. Minimum RH 32 to 45%. Highs 19 to 23. Chance of lightning today/tomorrow.. 0%/0%. Intense..0%/0%. WEST ZONE (KEMANO TO BELL II) Today.. A mix of sun and cloud. Wind becoming south to southwest 15 to 25 km/h. Minimum RH 30 to 40%. High 19 to 24. Tomorrow.. Mainly cloudy. Isolated showers. Wind south to southwest 15 to 20 km/h. Minimum RH 45 to 55%. High 17 to 20. Chance of lightning today/tomorrow.. 0%/0%. Intense..0%/0%. COAST (NORTH COAST) Today.. .. Increasing cloud. Scattered showers developing on Haida Gwaii. Wind south to southwest 10 to 20 km/h. Minimum RH 60 to 70%. Highs 16 to 19. Tomorrow.. Cloudy with a few showers. Wind southeast to south 10 to 20 km/h. Minimum RH 70 to 80%. Highs 13 to 16. Chance of lightning today/tomorrow.. 0%/0%. Intense..0%/0%. NORTHERN ZONE (BOB QUINN TO ATLIN TO WATSON LAKE) Today.. .. Sunny with cloudy periods. Wind southwest 15 km/h. Minimum RH 22 to 35 percent. Highs 20 to 24. Tomorrow.. Cloudy with sunny periods. Chance of showers west of Dease Lake. Wind south 15 to 20 with afternoon gusts to 35 km/h. Minimum RH 28 to 38 per-cent. Highs 17 to 22. Chance of lightning today/tomorrow.. 0%/0%. Intense.. 0%/0%. Confidence: Fair to good. The main message is for warm and dry conditions con-tinuing over inland areas for the next five days or so. There is only a slight chance of showers with the two systems Saturday and Tuesday. Watch out for the potential of lightning with the disturbance on Tuesday.

Northwest Fire

Centre Statistics

Since April 1, 2012:

Fires to date: 17

Hectares burned: 15

Person-caused fires: 17

Lightning-caused fires: 0

2011 at this time:

Fires to date: 17

Hectares burned: 11,009

Person-caused fires: 12

Lightning-caused fires: 5

2010 at this time:

Fires to date: 28

Hectares burned: 5,580

Person-caused fires: 22

Lightning-caused fires: 6

P A G E 4

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

Protecting your home from wildfire starts with simple actions. Whether you are doing regular yard maintenance or making large-scale changes during renovations or landscaping, you can make choices that will help protect your home from wildfire.

We have compiled a list of some of

the things that you can do around

your home that are (close to) free

and fairly easy.

Rake up leaves

Keep your lawn mowed and watered

Keep rooftop and eavestroughs clean and free of debris

Have a shovel, rake, garden hose, sprinkler, axe and ladder available to assist fire

suppression workers

Stack your firewood at least 10 metres away from your home

Ensure that your house number is clearly visible from the street

Prune tree branches to a height of two metres

Create an emergency and evacuation plan for your household

Once you have completed these items, then check out firesmartcanada.ca to see what other actions

you can do.

Protecting your home

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