B.C. First Nation implements off-road ban, cites ongoing heat wave, drought

With nary alleviation successful show from nan heat wave that’s cooking B.C., a First Nation says it has implemented an off-road ban to forestall backcountry wildfires.

The Lower Similkameen Indian Band says nan ban, which targets motorized vehicles, came into effect connected Wednesday astatine 4 p.m., and that it will stay successful effect until further notice.

Those vehicles are now prohibited from driving connected immoderate LSIB roadworthy pinch maturation aliases vegetation.

According to nan band, nan word motorized vehicles includes those powered by batteries.

“If nan roadworthy is wholly bare, past it tin beryllium used,” nan First Nation said. “However, vehicles cannot time off nan roadway astatine immoderate clip for immoderate logic different than to participate onto different bare road.”

The province’s wildfire threat standing for nan Similkameen is betwixt precocious and extreme, nan apical 2 levels of its five-tier system.

Further, nan province’s drought portal ranks nan Similkameen astatine drought level 3 retired of five.

The LSIB besides noted that horses aren’t immune from nan ban, either.

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“For each of those who are riding horses successful nan backcountry, please cheque to spot that your horses are not shod pinch alloy shoes,” it said.

“We are afloat alert of really stepping connected hard, hot, rocky areas affects nan hooves and frogs of nan horses, mules, donkeys, and ponies, but 1 spark from those shoes tin bring horrible consequences to america all.”

The set said LSIB guardians will beryllium “fully engaged pinch effecting this set connected LSIB territories.”