National

Martin Mars Water Bomber Deployed To Its First Fire East Of Nelson, B.C.

The Canadian Press, 19 Jul, 2015 12:11 PM

NELSON, B.C. — The Martin Mars water bomber has been deployed to fight its first forest fire in British Columbia since it was retired two years ago.

Provincial Fire Information Officer Ryan Turcot says the bomber was sent to a seven-hectare fire east of Nelson on Saturday.

He says the fire east of Boswell and Highway 3A is burning on difficult, steep terrain and the objective of the Martin Mars will be to hold the west flank of the blaze as previous air drops have not been successful.

Turcot says the Martin Mars will increase the relative humidity of the ground fuels and give the personnel on the ground some time to establish a guard.

The number of wildfires burning in the province has dropped to 150 from more than 200 at the start of the week.

The Puntzi Lake blaze in the province's Cariboo region has destroyed more than 8,100 hectares and forced several properties to be evacuated.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

One Teen Dead, Another Charged, As Police Investigate Port Alberni Homicide

RCMP Insp. Mac Richards says the 18-year-old is expected in court soon and her name will not be released until after she appears.

One Teen Dead, Another Charged, As Police Investigate Port Alberni Homicide

Shaken City Of Vancouver Workers Return To The Job After Co-worker Shot Dead In Burnaby

VANCOUVER — The City of Vancouver confirms a veteran employee is the man fatally shot in a targeted attack in Burnaby, B.C.

Shaken City Of Vancouver Workers Return To The Job After Co-worker Shot Dead In Burnaby

B.C. Posts $1.68 Billion Surplus, Up From $184 Million Forecast In Feb. 2014

VICTORIA — British Columbia's finance minister says a higher-than-expected budget surplus leaves room for modest family initiatives but he's wary of escalating forest-fire costs and signs of economic downturns in Canada and internationally.

B.C. Posts $1.68 Billion Surplus, Up From $184 Million Forecast In Feb. 2014

B.C. Judge Says He Gets Man's Frustration But Threat Still Nets Firearms Ban

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A Kamloops, B.C., man who threatened to drive his truck through the front doors of a hospital with a shotgun has been issued a one-year firearms ban.

B.C. Judge Says He Gets Man's Frustration But Threat Still Nets Firearms Ban

Vancouver Police Guard City Work Sites, While RCMP Probes 'Serious Incident'

Vancouver police, meanwhile, issued a release saying they've taken the "unusual steps" of securing public works yards and job sites due to a threat against a City of Vancouver employee

Vancouver Police Guard City Work Sites, While RCMP Probes 'Serious Incident'

'Extremely Dry' Level 4 Drought Declared For Lower Fraser And South Coast

VANCOUVER — British Columbia's Forests Minister says soaring temperatures and paltry rainfall have pushed the province's most heavily populated region to the highest alert level on the drought scale.