Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 14 Aug, 2023 12:03 PM
  • Hot spell add to wildfire woes

Wildfire crews battling several major blazes around British Columbia had a busy but not overwhelming weekend, although the BC Wildfire Service says challenging conditions could arrive within days as heat and powerful winds settle over the southern half of the province.

The wildfire service is reporting about 375 fires around B.C., with about 11 recorded since midday Sunday and another 11 still ranked as fires of note, meaning they are highly visible or threaten people or property.

One of those, the Ross Moore Lake fire south of Kamloops, now covers more than 72 square kilometres, and on Sunday prompted a revised evacuation order for two properties east of Lac Le Jeune and an updated evacuation alert covering 343 properties.

Plans to carry out controlled burns south of Lac Le Jeune have been thwarted by wind, but in southeastern B.C. the wildfire service says crews were able to strengthen containment lines around a nearly 10-square-kilometre blaze just west of Sparwood, as they brace for gusty winds forecast on Thursday.

Crews also had to work fast to douse flames that broke out Sunday on the hill just above Teck Resources' Trail operations, potentially threatening the work site as well as some homes near the community of Warfield.

The wildfire service says one of its helicopters, aided by a full response from Kootenay Boundary firefighters and Teck's trained crews, had handled the suspected human-caused blaze within hours.

The fire danger rating in that area, and for most of southern B.C., is ranked at moderate to high, while mapping shows the majority of the province remains at a drought level of four or five on the five-point scale, meaning serious economic effects from the dry conditions are likely or almost certain.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights
The Military Grievances External Review Committee reviews grievances that are referred to it by the chief of defence staff, and provides the chief with non-binding findings and recommendations. The vaccine policy required Canadian Armed Forces members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face release.

External review found military's COVID-19 vaccine policy violated Charter of Rights

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra
Through extensive video canvassing, IHIT has identified a suspect vehicle, described as a black 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, which was parked in the hours leading up to the homicide on the west-side of the 8100-block of Minler Road, with the suspects inside.  

Suspect vehicle identified in Richmond shooting of Ravinder Samra

PharmaCare covers medical device for diabetics

PharmaCare covers medical device for diabetics
British Columbia residents with diabetes who use a flash glucose monitor to read their blood sugar levels will now have the cost of it covered by the province. As of today, the FreeStyle Libre will be covered by B-C PharmaCare as a limited-coverage benefit.

PharmaCare covers medical device for diabetics

Labour experts urge caution ahead of union vote that could end B.C. port dispute

Labour experts urge caution ahead of union vote that could end B.C. port dispute
Leaders of the International and Longshore Workers Union Canada are recommending that its 7,400 or so members approve the tentative new deal with employers, that both sides announced in a joint statement late Sunday.  

Labour experts urge caution ahead of union vote that could end B.C. port dispute

Cyberattack on B.C. health websites may have taken personal information

Cyberattack on B.C. health websites may have taken personal information
A cyberattack on three websites hosted by the Health Employers Association of British Columbia may have seized personal information associated with 240,000 email addresses. Michael McMillian, CEO of the association, says information obtained could include social insurance numbers, home addresses, passport and licence details and other personal data. 

Cyberattack on B.C. health websites may have taken personal information

Poilievre says Canada's immigration system is broken, sidesteps target cut questions

Poilievre says Canada's immigration system is broken, sidesteps target cut questions
Pierre Poilievre says Canada's immigration system is broken, but the Conservative leader is sidestepping questions about whether he would change current targets. Appearing before reporters on Parliament Hill, Poilievre criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent comments on housing and pledged to speed up entry for immigrants skilled in the building trades. 

Poilievre says Canada's immigration system is broken, sidesteps target cut questions