Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. wildfire count drops amid cool, wet weather, but about 400 still burn

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 26 Jul, 2024 10:10 AM
  • B.C. wildfire count drops amid cool, wet weather, but about 400 still burn

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia has dropped again to about 400 after another day of favourable weather.

The BC Wildfire Service says the fire risk has decreased on the heels of cooler temperatures and rain in many regions following a prolonged dry spell and heat wave that drove numbers beyond 430 earlier this week.

In the central Interior, the District of Wells has rescinded an evacuation order that had spanned the community and surrounding rural areas.

The district says residents are allowed to return home, but they must remain ready to leave on short notice as the 142-kilometre-square Antler Creek blaze burns nearby.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has meanwhile issued an evacuation order for four properties on Dunn Lake Road, which is closed for a 22-kilometre stretch north of Barriere due to the 12-square-kilometre Dunn Creek fire.

The fires are among about 218 out-of-control blazes across the province, down from about 260 on Wednesday.

The wildfire service says a risk of thunderstorms persists across the Interior, bringing rain as well as gusty winds that could fan the flames of existing blazes.

It says winds from the cold front were to blame for the rapid expansion of an out-of-control fire near Golden in southeastern B.C.

The Town of Golden says the 55-square-kilometre Dogtooth Forest Service Road fire destroyed as many as six homes, but assessments are still being done to confirm the damage.

An evacuation alert has been rescinded for the Village of Ashcroft, which was under threat from the Shetland Creek fire, the same blaze that destroyed at least six homes in the Venables Valley.

The community of Silverton remains on an evacuation order as the Aylwin Creek fire burns nearby, closing Highway 6 between New Denver and Slocan with no timeline for reopening.

MORE National ARTICLES

'Extreme drought' in area of early-season wildfire near Chetwynd, B.C.

'Extreme drought' in area of early-season wildfire near Chetwynd, B.C.
British Columbia's first wildfire evacuation order of this year was rescinded within 24 hours, but local officials say "extreme drought" means the risk remains high.

'Extreme drought' in area of early-season wildfire near Chetwynd, B.C.

Alberta to pay nurse practitioners up to 80 per cent of what family doctors make

Alberta to pay nurse practitioners up to 80 per cent of what family doctors make
The Alberta government announced Thursday a new payment model that would allow nurse practitioners to make 80 per cent of what family doctors are paid.

Alberta to pay nurse practitioners up to 80 per cent of what family doctors make

Man accused of first-degree murder more than two years after Manitoba double homicide

Man accused of first-degree murder more than two years after Manitoba double homicide
Manitoba RCMP have charged a man with first-degree murder, more than two years after a double homicide on the Northlands Denesuline First Nation, a remote fly-in community of some 900 residents in the province's far north.

Man accused of first-degree murder more than two years after Manitoba double homicide

B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park to have partial closure, allowing for conservation, tourism

B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park to have partial closure, allowing for conservation, tourism
An agreement between the B.C. government and the First Nations that manage Joffre Lakes Provincial Park will see the popular tourist spot closed for part of the year to protect its "natural and cultural values."

B.C.'s Joffre Lakes Park to have partial closure, allowing for conservation, tourism

Man stabbed to death in White Rock, B.C., days after similar knife attack in area

Man stabbed to death in White Rock, B.C., days after similar knife attack in area
Police in White Rock, B.C., say two stabbings in the city within a few days and with apparent similarities are "alarming."

Man stabbed to death in White Rock, B.C., days after similar knife attack in area

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson leaving politics after 23 years

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson leaving politics after 23 years
Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson is resigning her legislature seat and leaving political life.

Former Manitoba premier Heather Stefanson leaving politics after 23 years