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Wildfire season turns the corner

Campfire ban, smoke advisory, Cherry Lake restrictions all rescinded

Townsman Staff

Sure signs that local wildfire are coming control, and that wildfire season itself  is winding down. Area restrictions for the Cherry Lake fire have been rescinded, the campfire ban has been rescinded, and the smoke advisory has been rescinded.Effective at noon on Monday, Aug. 31, campfires are once again permitted throughout the Southeast Fire Centre's jurisdiction. The Southeast Fire Centre rescinded its campfire prohibition due to cooler and wetter conditions in the forecast and a decreased wildfire risk in the region. The following activities are now allowed:

• Campfires no larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre high.

•  An open fire in an outdoor stove.

Small backyard burning piles (Category 2 open fires) remain prohibited within the Southeast Fire Centre. These prohibitions include:

• The burning of any material in a pile larger than a half-metre wide by a half-metre high, up to two metres wide by three metres high.

• The burning of stubble or grass in an area covering up to 0.2 hectares.

• Fireworks, sky lanterns and burning barrels.

• The use of binary exploding targets.

•  The use of air curtain burners (forced air burning systems).

Category 3 open fires continue to be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre's jurisdictional area.

Also on Monday, The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Interior Health Authority, ended the Smoky Skies Advisory that was issued on August 24 for the Boundary and Kootenay areas. While some wildfires remain active, the weather system that is moving through the region, accompanied by rain and high winds, has reduced the amount of smoke and improved air quality. These conditions are expected to continue over the next few days.

And on Monday, the public access restriction for the Caven, Wickman, Larch,

Bloom and Teepee/Jim Creek Forest Service roads, in the vicinity of the Cherry Lake wild south of Cranbrook has been rescinded, effective immediately.