National

Highway 97C shut after truck with chemicals catches fire near West Kelowna

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Nov, 2023 03:59 PM

Police say a portion of the Coquihalla Connecter outside West Kelowna, B.C., is closed after a commercial truck carrying chemicals caught fire.

West Kelowna RCMP say the eastbound lanes of Highway 97C were shut down Friday as fire crews doused the flames.

Police say the truck was about 20 kilometres outside West Kelowna when it caught fire, and battling the flames is "challenging" because of the chemicals the vehicle was carrying.

Footage and photos from the scene show the truck and roadway engulfed in flames and thick smoke billowing from the fire.

West Kelowna RCMP says drivers should avoid the area if they're travelling eastbound.

Police say the westbound lanes are still open, but the incident is expected to slow traffic as crews work to put out the fire then investigate its cause.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Park board has tips to 'respect' Vancouver coyotes

Coyotes are found across Vancouver and prefer sheltered, wooded areas to raise their families, so the board says it will occasionally close trails in high-traffic locations like Stanley Park where they are known to frequent.

Park board has tips to 'respect' Vancouver coyotes

Climate group urges 'made-in-Canada' response

The institute says the federal government shouldn't try to match the incentives and subsidies offered by the U.S. and instead tailor its measures for Canada. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has signalled the March 28 budget will include ways to keep Canada competitive as countries transition their economies to cleaner energy and technologies.

Climate group urges 'made-in-Canada' response

Federal minimum wage rising to $16.65 per hour

The federal minimum wage is rising to $16.65 per hour on April 1, up from $15.55. Ottawa set a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour in 2021 and increases it each year based on inflation. The changes are made every year on April 1.

Federal minimum wage rising to $16.65 per hour

Canada's passport backlog 'completely eliminated'

She also announced that Ottawa is launching a new digital tool that will allow Canadians to check the status of their Service Canada application online, as long as they provide an email address.

Canada's passport backlog 'completely eliminated'

B.C. pharmacist suspended for faked vaccine

The College of Pharmacists of BC says on a post on its website that its inquiry committee has suspended Aftabahmed Shaikh for 30 days and placed a permanent letter of reprimand on his file. The college says its inquiry also found that Shaikh altered the pharmacy's software to make his records more difficult to find.

B.C. pharmacist suspended for faked vaccine

Hate crime team joins Kelowna, B.C., assault probe

Police say a suspect group has been identified, but no arrests have been made. The reason for the attack and the details linked to it are still being determined and the 21-year-old student is being supported by the Mounties' victim services unit.