Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

'Aggressive' wildfire shuts B.C. highway as military and officials set to meet

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Jul, 2023 09:35 AM
  • 'Aggressive' wildfire shuts B.C. highway as military and officials set to meet

The BC Wildfire Service says an "aggressive" fire that exploded in size over the weekend has cut off a highway on the central coast, while more than a dozen new blazes have been sparked since Sunday.

The service says Highway 20 north of Bella Coola was closed Sunday evening as the fire that was discovered near Young Creek just the day before swelled to 22-square kilometres in size. 

The service says no evacuation orders have been issued for the fire, which is among more than 360 burning in the province, with 23 listed by the wildfire service as fires of note. 

A working group comprised of members of Public Safety Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and B.C. emergency management and wildfire officials are set to meet today to discuss the province's volatile wildfire situation.

A weekend statement from the Ministry of Emergency Management says the meeting will focus on plans for deploying federal resources after the province requested help in the fire fight.

It says two military reconnaissance teams were deployed Sunday, with a "land force team" arriving at the ministry's emergency operations centre in Prince George and an air force team bound for the BC Wildfire co-ordination centre in Kamloops.

The ministry says the teams are conducting assessments that will inform deployment plans for additional federal resources to come.

The Thomson-Nicola Regional District says the Bush Creek East fire near Kamloops is "highly visible," but no evacuation orders or alerts have been issued even as gusty winds have fanned wildfires around the city.

Environment Canada's forecast for Kamloops says there's a chance of rain and a risk of thunderstorms this afternoon, with many regions in the province under cloudy skies with possible rain on the way, breaking a weeks-long drought. 

Metro Vancouver's cloudy skies Monday brought light rain, though drought conditions continue across much of B.C. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital
The Fraser Health authority says the emergency department at a Hope, B.C., hospital that was temporarily closed after a fatal police shooting has reopened. Police say the man received immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead at the scene.  

Emergency department reopens after man shot dead by police in B.C. hospital

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage
Earlier in the day, debris from the ill-fated submersible was returned to shore in Newfoundland aboard a Canadian-flagged ship that had helped search for the vessel in a remote area of ocean near the wreck of the Titanic.

U.S. Coast Guard says 'presumed human remains' found in Titan wreckage

Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., probe theft of German shepherd puppies

Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., probe theft of German shepherd puppies
Police say the theft occurred around 3 a.m. Monday morning. Since then, five of the eight-week-old puppies have been recovered, but police say the rest are still missing. 

Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., probe theft of German shepherd puppies

Rental protection for BC residents

Rental protection for BC residents
The British Columbia government says its 500-million-dollar rental-protection fund will help renters stay in their homes and keep their rents affordable. The province has opened access to the fund that will help non-profit groups purchase rental buildings.

Rental protection for BC residents

Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says

Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says
The Liberals promised a stand-alone dental insurance plan for low- and middle-income Canadians who don't have private insurance as part of its supply and confidence deal with the NDP last year.

Dental care to cost $3B less than budgeted unless provinces drop coverage, PBO says

Canada removes limit on study programmes' length for work permit holders

Canada removes limit on study programmes' length for work permit holders
The Canadian government on Tuesday introduced a public policy that will be beneficial for immigrants, including those from India, to boost their career, job prospects, and chances of permanent residency.

Canada removes limit on study programmes' length for work permit holders