Topic B.C.
Fire danger drops as cooler weather eases B.C.’s wildfire season
September 27, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the fire danger rating across most of the province has dropped to low or very low as cool, damp fall weather arrives. The wildfire service says there have been no new fires…
Brokers: Is your client’s dog “friendly?”
September 25, 2023 by David GambrillWhen two dog owners pass each other while walking their dogs, it is common to hear one ask of the other’s dog, “Friendly?” Perhaps that’s what personal lines home insurance brokers should be asking their dog-owning clients, since lawsuits against…
Environment Canada warns B.C. coast to prepare for heavy winds, rain
September 25, 2023 by Jason ContantRain and a wind storm are expected for much of British Columbia’s coast, bringing gusts as strong as 110 kilometres per hour. Environment Canada warnings cover both northern and eastern Vancouver Island, as well as Victoria, portions of the Sunshine…
Four young B.C. firefighters heading home die in head-on crash on highway
September 21, 2023 by Brenna Owen - THE CANADIAN PRESSFour young men travelling home after helping in the battle against wildfires in central British Columbia are dead after a fiery head-on crash, police and provincial officials said Wednesday. RCMP Cpl. James Grandy said emergency crews responded around 2 a.m.…
B.C. to introduce new disaster management laws to address preparedness, mitigation
September 20, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – British Columbia’s emergency management minister said the province will be ready to introduce “in the coming weeks” new laws to govern responses to increasingly frequent natural disasters such as wildfires and flooding. Bowinn Ma told a gathering at…
400+ wildfires continue to burn across B.C. as new evacuation orders issued
September 18, 2023 by The Canadian PressWILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. – An evacuation order has been issued by Cariboo Regional District for 28 properties in the Horn Lake Area in central British Columbia. This comes as the BC Wildfire Service says fire behaviour on the nearby Hell…
Province aware of dike problems before destructive flooding in 2021, documents show
September 13, 2023 by Brenna Owen - THE CANADIAN PRESSOfficials with the British Columbia government and the City of Merritt were aware of significant problems with dikes for several years before a series of atmospheric rivers flooded the community, documents released through a freedom of information request show. The…
B.C. wildfires continue to burn through September
September 12, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The latest evacuation order issued due to a wildfire in British Columbia covers a rural area north of Prince George in a region straddling the boundaries of two regional governments. The regional districts of Fraser-Fort George and Bulkley-Nechako…
What insurers pay to repair EVs
September 11, 2023 by David GambrillAlthough electric vehicles in Canada cost an average of $1,328 more to repair than vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE), EVs are less likely to be written off as a total loss, says a Mitchell report. The cost of the…
B.C. sets up climate emergency task force amid wildfire crisis
September 11, 2023 by The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – British Columbia Premier David Eby says he’s launching an expert task force into wildfires, drought and heat emergencies that have hammered the province. Eby, who’s in the B.C. Interior touring wildfire zones, says the province is still focused…
Feds predict parts of Canada could see wildfires through winter
September 7, 2023 by The Canadian PressOTTAWA – The latest federal government forecast says Canada’s already unprecedented 2023 wildfire season could continue late into the fall or winter. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says there is potential for increased wildland fire activity from eastern…
Adjusters provide update on B.C., N.W.T. wildfires
September 6, 2023 by Jason ContantWildfires in British Columbia and Northwest Territories continue to present a mixed bag of claims for P&C adjusters. Claims adjusters are seeing a variety of both residential and commercial losses. “Major loss, total losses and less severe claims as well,”…