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

Metro Vancouver water restrictions enter Stage 2

Metro Vancouver water restrictions enter Stage 2
Metro Vancouver says Stage 2 water-use restrictions begin next Friday -- halting all lawn watering until further notice and limiting other outdoor water use. Metro Vancouver chair George Harvie says the restrictions should ensure enough drinking water -- and water for essential uses -- is available throughout the dry season.

Metro Vancouver water restrictions enter Stage 2

Two missing hikers found dead in Crowsnest Pass in Rocky Mountains: Alberta RCMP

Two missing hikers found dead in Crowsnest Pass in Rocky Mountains: Alberta RCMP
Mounties say two Alberta hikers have been found dead at the bottom of a ridge at Mount Coulthard, a summit in the Rocky Mountains. RCMP were informed Wednesday night that the two hikers who were making their way along the North York Creek Plane Crash Trail, outside Coleman, Alta., had not returned when planned. 

Two missing hikers found dead in Crowsnest Pass in Rocky Mountains: Alberta RCMP

Growth in Canadian economy in May

Growth in Canadian economy in May
Statistics Canada says the energy sector was down 2.1 per cent in May -- its first decline in five months and its largest since August 2020.  Canada's record-breaking wildfire season led many mining and oil and gas companies to reduce their operations in Alberta.  

Growth in Canadian economy in May

Province wants feedback on ride hailing, taxi

Province wants feedback on ride hailing, taxi
The B-C government says it wants to hear from British Columbians about taxi and ride-hailing services in the province. The province says it's holding a public meeting in the fall as a special committee is set to review so-called passenger-directed vehicles that come under the Passenger Transportation Act.   

Province wants feedback on ride hailing, taxi

Street expansion coming for Surrey

Street expansion coming for Surrey
City council in Surrey has awarded a contract for designing the widening of 132nd Street between 72nd Avenue to 80th Avenue. The city says in a news release that the expansion to four lanes aims to improve traffic and safety.

Street expansion coming for Surrey

Shooting in Richmond leaves one dead

Shooting in Richmond leaves one dead
A shooting in Richmond  has left one man dead, and police are investigating whether a nearby car fire is related to the case. Richmond RCMP were called to Milner Road at Blundell Road at 5:45 p.m. Thursday for reports of a shooting.  

Shooting in Richmond leaves one dead