City of Williams Lake imposes Campfire Ban - April 24, 2026 at 12pm

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

The City of Williams Lake is implementing a campfire ban within City limits effective at 12 p.m. (noon) on Friday, April 24, 2026.

The ban will remain in place until October 31, 2026, unless conditions improve and it can be rescinded earlier. Fire risk conditions will be continually reassessed throughout the season.

Evan Dean, Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services, said the decision follows two human-caused fires responded to by the Williams Lake Fire Department on April 23, 2026 - as well as increasingly dry and windy conditions developing earlier than normal for this time of year.

“The fires we responded to were not abandoned but were, unfortunately, not tended to safely,” Dean said. “People underestimate how quickly fire can escape in these dry, windy conditions. This temporary ban is a necessary step to reduce preventable ignitions and protect our community.”

The campfire ban applies to:

• Wood-burning campfires of any size
• Backyard fire pits using wood
• Burning of yard waste, grass or debris

The following are still permitted:

• Propane fire pits
• Propane and natural gas barbecues
• Charcoal briquettes
• CSA/ULC-approved gas appliances

Fine fuels such as grass and brush are highly susceptible to ignition and can spread quickly, particularly in windy conditions. The ban is intended to reduce the risk of human-caused fires and help protect homes, neighbourhoods and emergency responders. The City and the Williams Lake Fire Department thank residents for their cooperation and vigilance. For more information, please contact the Williams Lake Fire Department at 250-392-4321.

Konni Lake Evacuation ALERT (Cariboo RD Area "J") - April 23, 2026 at 7:30pm

Courtesy of the Cariboo RD Emergency Operations Centre:

April 23, 2026

7:30pm

An Evacuation Alert has been issued by Xeni Gwet’in First Nation Government, Tŝilhqot’in National Government, and the Cariboo Regional District Cariboo Regional District Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for 10 parcels in the Konni Lake Fire Area. This alert covers 465.96 hectares.

Because of the potential danger to life and health, the Cariboo Regional District has issued an Evacuation Alert for this area:

Evacuation Alert and Map (PDF)

See an online map of the affected areas here: cariboord.ca/EOCorderalerts   

An Evacuation Alert has been issued to give you time to prepare to evacuate your premises or property should it be required. 

Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible if an evacuation order is required; however, we may not have time to go door-to-door due to changing conditions. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WHEN AN ALERT IS IN EFFECT 

Upon notification of an ALERT, you should be prepared for an evacuation order:

·        Have a plan to transport all family members or co-workers outside of the area, should the area be brought under evacuation order.

·        Make grab-and-go bags for each member of your household to keep essential items readily available for a quick departure. Pack clothing, ready-to-eat food, toiletries, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance), immediate care needs for dependents and, if you choose, keepsakes (photographs, etc.). 

·        Ensure that any dependents or pets are prepared for departure. Gather comfort items (blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) for your dependents to make an evacuation less stressful. Gather any kennels or leashes to make transportation safe with your pets. 

·        Move pets and livestock to a safe area if they cannot be evacuated. Ensure water and feed are available.

·        Keep the fuel tanks of personal vehicles full in case a new order is issued.

·        Ensure that you have accommodation options for your family, if possible. An Evacuee Reception Centre will be made available if required. Homeowner or tenant insurance may provide greater support than ESS will be able to.

·        In the event you are evacuated, do not shut off your natural gas. For more information, visit fortisbc.com/forestfires.

·        Monitor reliable news sources for information on evacuation orders and locations of Reception Centres and the CRD’s channels on Facebook and cariboord.ca. 

·        If you are on an evacuation ALERT, or if you have been displaced from your home due to an emergency, please self-register for Emergency Support Services. You will need to sign up for the BC Services Card app to access the self-registration tool, which will reduce wait times for evacuees and assist in the referral process. https://ess.gov.bc.ca/ 

Residents are encouraged to register for the Cariboo Chilcotin Emergency Notification System to receive a text, call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders.

For Cariboo Regional District information, please visit Cariboo Regional District's website or Emergency Operations Centre Facebook page or call CRD 1-866-759-4977 or TNG 1-250-392-0735.

Quesnel Council Highlights - April 21, 2026 mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Retirement Presentation - Curtis Galbraith

​​​​​Council recognized the retirement of 25-year employee Curtis Galbraith. We wish Curtis all the best in his retirement.

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COFI (Council of Forest Industries) Convention

Mayor Ron Paull provided an update on his and City Manager Joel McKay’s recent participation at the Council of Forest Industries Convention from April 8 to 10, 2026, in Vancouver. The convention brought together nearly 700 leaders from forestry, government, First Nations, business, and local communities. Speakers highlighted the Cariboo Region’s major role in BC’s forest economy. At the same time, it was clear the industry is at a crossroads, with ongoing challenges around regulations, markets, trade barriers, and access to fibre creating uncertainty for communities like Quesnel. There was also optimism around solutions, such as community-based forestry, improved wildfire management, and better use of residual fibre.

Mayor Paull had the opportunity to speak with industry representatives and take part in a Resource Works podcast, where he highlighted Quesnel’s deep forestry roots, current innovation, available mill infrastructure, skilled workforce, and future opportunities.

The key takeaway: forestry remains essential to a strong province, and real, timely action is needed to ensure the industry and communities like Quesnel can thrive into the future.

Council will be sending a letter to the Ministry of Forests and the Premier supporting the immediate need for provincial policy reform regarding the forest industry.

City of Quesnel Centennial

Council has approved the creation of a Quesnel Centennial Advisory Committee to help guide planning and engagement for the City’s 2028 Centennial celebration. Council will work with staff to bring together community stakeholders to participate on the committee.

City of Quesnel Financial Plan Bylaw 1981, 2026 and City of Quesnel Tax Rate Bylaw 1982, 2026

Council approved the first three readings of the City of City of Quesnel Financial Plan Bylaw 1981, 2026 and City of Quesnel Tax Rate Bylaw 1982, 2026.

The average residence in Quesnel (valued at $370,016) will see an increase of $36.13 (2.6%) in the municipal tax portion of their property tax invoice or $9.76 per $100,000 of assessment. A commercial business will see on average an increase of $40.79 per $100,000 of assessment, major industry -$51.64 per $100,000.

Announcements

• DeRoche Ridge Rush and Mercantile Market
  9:00 am – 11:00 pm on June 27th, 2026 at LeBourdais Park
  Scavenger hunt, local vendors, food trucks, DJ, Karaoke and more
• Category 2 and 3 open fire prohibitions coming into effect across the Cariboo Fire Centre
  Effective at 12:00 pm (noon) PDT on Thursday, April 23, 2026, Category 2 and 3 open fires and associated equipment and activities will be prohibited across the entire Cariboo Fire Centre including the Tsilhqot'in (Xeni Gwet'in) Declared Title Area.
• National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls - Red Dress Day
  A walk is being planned, and more details and a poster will be shared in the community shortly.

Category 2 and 3 open fire prohibitions coming into effect across the Cariboo Fire Centre

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service:

April 21, 2026

3:40pm

Effective at 12:00 p.m. (noon) PDT on Thursday, April 23 , 2026,Category 2 and 3 open fires and associated equipment and activities will be prohibited across the entire Cariboo Fire Centre including the Tsilhqot'in (Xeni Gwet'in) Declared Title Area.   Prohibition Details All Category 2 and 3 open fires must be fully extinguished by 12:00 noon on Thursday, April 23 , 2026. The prohibitions will remain in place until 12:00 noon on October 31, 2026, or until the Orders are rescinded. These prohibitions apply to the entire Cariboo Fire Centre including the Tsilhqot'in (Xeni Gwet'in) Declared Title Area, the Cariboo Chilcotin Forest District, the 100 Mile House Forest District and the Quesnel Forest District. In addition, this prohibition applies to the following types of land within municipal boundaries: Parks, conservancies and recreation areas. Recreation sites, recreation trails, interpretive forest sites and trail-based recreation areas. Ecological reserves. Wildlife management areas. Private managed forest land. The following activities and use of the following equipment, materials and substances will also be prohibited: Binary exploding targets Fireworks, as defined in the Fireworks Act of BC Burn Barrels or Burn Cages Controlled air incinerators Air curtain burners Carbonizers   Please view a map of the prohibition area below.   Municipalities often follow BC Wildfire Service prohibitions or may impose different prohibitions based on conditions in their local area. If you are in a municipality, be sure to check if local prohibitions are in place. If you are within a regional district or improvement district, this prohibition applies as well as any local prohibition issued by the regional district or improvement district. BC Parks follows BC Wildfire Service prohibitions.   What is prohibited  A Category 3 open fire is a fire that burns: Material concurrently in three or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width. Material in one or more piles each exceeding 2 metres in height or 3 metres in width. One or more windrows each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width. Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares. A Category 2 open fire is a fire, other than a category 1 campfire, that burns: Material in one pile not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width. Material concurrently in two piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width. Stubble or grass over an area that does not exceed 0.2 hectares.   What is not prohibited This prohibition does not include Category 1 campfires that are 0.5 metres high by 0.5 metres wide or smaller. Outdoor stoves as defined in the Wildfire Regulation a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.

Multiple additional factors are taken into consideration when assessing wildfire hazards and implementing open fire prohibitions, including: Drought conditions Current and forecasted weather Predicted wildfire behavior Firefighting resource availability

The BCWS YouTube page has a number of informative videos on Open Burning and Category 3 burns including the one linked here.

The BCWS YouTube page has a number of informative videos on Open Burning and Category 2 burns including the one linked here.

Penalties Anyone found in contravention of an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000, or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced for up to one year in jail. If your fire causes or contributes to a wildfire, you may be fined up to $1 million and/or sentenced to up to 3 years in jail, as well as be responsible for all firefighting and associated costs.   Reporting To report an unattended campfire or open burning violation calling call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. To report illegal fires in a local fire department’s jurisdiction, call 9-1-1. Dial *5555 on a cell phone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free to report a wildfire. Use the Report function in the BC Wildfire App to report a wildfire. Reporting though the app lets you upload images and can be used without service.   Stay in the know For the latest information on current wildfire activity, prohibitions and restrictions, road closures, and air-quality advisories please visit BCWildfire.ca, the BC Wildfire Map, or use the BC Wildfire app.   Follow the latest wildfire news on: Facebook Instagram YouTube BC Wildfire App: available for Apple and Android   Contact Fire Information Officer Cariboo Fire Centre | BC Wildfire Service 778 799-2100 CaFCInfo@gov.bc.ca

City of Quesnel to test Emergency Notification System - May 6, 2026

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

Emergency Notification System TEST ALERT

On May 6, 2026, between 11 am and 1 pm, the City of Quesnel will conduct a test of its Emergency Notification System using VoyentAlert!

Only residents who are registered with VoyentAlert! will receive the test notification by phone, text message (SMS), and/or email, based on their personal notification settings. To receive this alert, you must also have a location within city limits saved in your location settings.

This is a great opportunity to register for VoyentAlert! or log in to your account to ensure your contact information is up to date and that all locations you want notifications for have been added.

Log in to review your settings

Learn more and register

​​​​​​​

Prescribed burn planned for Fox Mountain area (Eider Drive area)

Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service | Cariboo Fire Centre:

April 20, 2026

5:00pm

To reduce the threat of wildfire the BC Wildfire Service, in collaboration with the Williams Lake Fire Department, will conduct a wildfire risk reduction prescribed burn on Fox Mountain. This prescribed burn is a continuation of the 13 hectare fuel reduction treatment that was completed April 9, 2026.

When and where

• Burning will begin as early as Friday, April 24, continuing periodically until May 15.
• The prescribed burn will take place on approximately 20 hectares of land west of Eider Drive on the north side of Fox Mountain Road.

What to expect

• Smoke and flames will be visible to residents on Fox Mountain, from the City of Williams Lake and to motorists traveling Highway 97.
• Crews will ignite ground fuels to remove combustible materials.
• Ignitions will only proceed if conditions are safe, with favorable weather and atmospheric venting allowing smoke to clear quickly.
• While burning is underway portions of the Bearacouga Mountain Bike Trail will be restricted, signage will be placed on the trails as needed.
• While burning is underway, traffic control may be on site to ensure the safety of public and firefighters, short delays may occur.
• Personnel will remain on site until there is no risk of the fire spreading beyond the perimeter and return daily until the fire is out.
• Smoke from within the perimeter of the burn may be visible up to 72 hours after ignition.

These YouTube videos explain the benefits of prescribed burning and showcase the process and some of the work that goes into planning prescribed burns. The BCWS YouTube channel is an excellent resource to watch videos on wildfire and prevention in the province.

Objectives of this prescribed burn

• Reduce wildfire risk to the City of Williams Lake and surrounding area.
• Use fire to restore forest health to encourage a properly functioning ecosystem and maintain treatments from previous years.
• Strengthen collaboration between the Williams Lake Fire Department and the Cariboo Fire Centre to grow capacity and knowledge outside of emergency response situations.

Minimizing health impacts from smoke

Exposure to smoke from wildfires or prescribed burning can irritate eyes and respiratory tracts and worsen pre-existing lung and heart conditions. If your area is impacted by smoke:

• Manage pre-existing conditions and seek medical care if you have severe symptoms.
• Reduce the length and intensity of outdoor activities.
• Run portable air cleaners with windows and doors closed. Both commercial and home-made units (https://rb.gy/90uh5s) can be effective if operated properly.

Learn about protecting your health from smoke online: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/wildfire-smoke

Learn more

Fire is a natural process in many of B.C.’s ecosystems. The BC Wildfire Service works regularly with land managers to undertake fuel management activities, including the use of prescribed burns, to help reduce the severity of future wildfires and related threats to communities.

Learn more about prescribed burning online at prescribedfire.ca or find more resources here.

Reporting

• To report an unattended campfire or open burning violation calling call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
• To report illegal fires in a local fire department’s jurisdiction, call 9-1-1.
• Dial *5555 on a cell phone or call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free to report a wildfire.
• Use the Report function in the BC Wildfire App to report a wildfire. Reporting though the app lets you upload images and can be used without service.

Stay in the know
For the latest information on current wildfire activity, prohibitions and restrictions, road closures, and air-quality advisories please visit BCWildfire.ca, the BC Wildfire Map, or use the BC Wildfire app.

Follow the latest wildfire news on:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• BC Wildfire App: available for Apple and Android

Contact

Fire Information Officer
Cariboo Fire Centre | BC Wildfire Service
778 799-2100
CaFCInfo@gov.bc.ca

Quesnel Council meets Tuesday, April 21, 2026!

On Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 -- Quesnel Council will be meeting as follows: 

Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 5:30pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St, Quesnel).  On the Agenda: 

* Presentation: Retirement of City of Quesnel Staff member 

* Reports from Mayor Paull -- 2026 COFI Conference and City of Quesnel Centennial event in 2028 

* City of Quesnel Financial Plan Bylaw 1981, 2026 and City of Quesnel Tax Rate Bylaw 1982, 2026 -- for consideration of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Readings

View the full Meeting Agenda here