Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

Youngster dies after tree falls at provincial campsite in B.C.'s Okanagan region

Youngster dies after tree falls at provincial campsite in B.C.'s Okanagan region
A child has been killed in British Columbia while visiting a provincial park in the Okanagan, south of Peachland. The age of the victim was not released and BC Parks hasn't said what might have caused the tree to come down.  

Youngster dies after tree falls at provincial campsite in B.C.'s Okanagan region

RCMP say six people killed in small plane crash west of Calgary

RCMP say six people killed in small plane crash west of Calgary
The identity of the victims have not been released, and the cause of the crash isn't yet known. RCMP Staff Sgt. Ryan Singleton told reporters at a news conference in Canmore, Alta., that all of the people on board the plane were on their way to a church function.

RCMP say six people killed in small plane crash west of Calgary

Winds play key role as wildfire continues to threaten Osoyoos, B.C.

Winds play key role as wildfire continues to threaten Osoyoos, B.C.
Winds will likely be a major factor in the battle to save the southern British Columbia town of Osoyoos from a raging wildfire, but the latest forecast offers some hope. Environment Canada is calling for northwest winds through the day before gusts of 20 kilometres per hour ease late in the day.

Winds play key role as wildfire continues to threaten Osoyoos, B.C.

Breakthrough in B.C. port dispute as new tentative deal is reached

Breakthrough in B.C. port dispute as new tentative deal is reached
A late-night breakthrough could herald an end to British Columbia's long-running port dispute, with the longshore workers' union and the employers' association announcing a new tentative agreement. Details of the deal haven't been released, but both sides say in a joint statement issued Sunday night that they are recommending their members to ratify it.

Breakthrough in B.C. port dispute as new tentative deal is reached

Surrey RCMP looking for witnesses to alleged hit-and-run that sends one to hospital

Surrey RCMP looking for witnesses to alleged hit-and-run that sends one to hospital
RCMP were called to 128 Street north of 80 Avenue in the Newton area of Surrey shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday for reports of a hit-and-run collision involving a pedestrian. Police say a vehicle struck a man in the roadway, and took off.

Surrey RCMP looking for witnesses to alleged hit-and-run that sends one to hospital

Body found in Oak Bay identified

Body found in Oak Bay identified
Police in Saanich say they have identified a man found dead under suspicious circumstances in Oak Bay as Steven Middleton. They say the 33-year-old's body was found on Wednesday in the 200-block of Beach Drive and the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has taken over the investigation.

Body found in Oak Bay identified