Keyword
wildfire
Exploding device at gender reveal party leads to wildfire in northern Alberta
June 10, 2021 The Canadian PressFORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – A $600 fine has been issued after a gender reveal party led to a wildfire in Alberta. Travis Fairweather, a wildfire information officer, says the party was taking place about 10 kilometres west of Fort McMurray…
Wildfire service outlook points to rising fire risk for southern B.C.
June 8, 2021 The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Rainfall in the next three weeks is crucial if British Columbia hopes to avoid a devastating wildfire season, but the latest outlook from the BC Wildfire Service offers little optimism. The service says rainfall and temperatures were near…
B.C. deploys crews to Manitoba to assist with several aggressive wildfires
May 27, 2021 The Canadian PressVICTORIA – A crew of firefighters is heading to Manitoba to help with wildfires in that province. B.C.’s Forests Minister Katrine Conroy says 41 firefighters and two support staff were deployed on Wednesday. A statement from Conroy’s office says the…
Saskatchewan wildfire grows, forcing evacuations to expand
May 18, 2021 The Canadian PressPRINCE ALBERT, Sask. – Dry conditions and strong winds caused a large wildfire to grow Tuesday near Saskatchewan’s third-largest city even as firefighters fought the flames. “The fire continues to rage,” said Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne. The city of…
Why wildfire is moving into ‘peak peril’ range
May 14, 2021 by Jason ContantWildfire is now moving into the range of a “peak peril” type of risk, similar to earthquakes and hurricanes, Risk Management Solutions, Inc. (RMS) told Canadian Underwriter recently. Overall, in both Canada and the United States, wildfire risks are starting…
Canada’s worst-case wildfire scenario could see a $20-billion loss: RMS
May 13, 2021 by Jason ContantCanada could potentially see $20-billion loss events from wildfire alone, according to recent simulations by Risk Management Solutions, Inc. (RMS). The odds of that happening would be “extremely rare, on the order of a 1-in-10,000-year return period,” Michael Young, vice…
Western Canadian air tanker fleet busy despite drop in wildfires
October 19, 2020 Bill Graveland - THE CANADIAN PRESSRED DEER, Alta. – A family-run company providing air-tanker support to control menacing wildfires in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Yukon is a little less busy these days, but it has nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. “It has…
Winds fan flames of B.C. wildfire as crews race to battle the blaze
September 1, 2020 The Canadian PressCANAL FLATS, B.C. – Wind gusts fanned the flames of a wildfire near a village at the southern end of Columbia Lake in British Columbia late Saturday, increasing the size of the blaze by about four square kilometres. The BC…
Shift in wind has potential to increase danger near Penticton, B.C. wildfire
August 21, 2020 The Canadian PressPENTICTON, B.C. – Firefighters in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan are bracing for a change in wind and weather that has the potential to drive a huge wildfire north toward the outskirts of Penticton. Calm winds over the last few days…
Opinion: Preparing for future risk? Look to what’s happened in the past
August 20, 2020 Robert Muir-Wood, RMSWhen evaluating unexpected catastrophe risks, our experiences can be sparse. Widening our knowledge by going back in time, by exploring the ‘near-misses’ and by expanding our geographic horizons is critical. Fortunately, big catastrophes are rare. This is good in that…
Hundreds evacuated, thousands on notice as wildfire flares in southern B.C.
August 19, 2020 The Canadian PressPENTICTON, B.C. – British Columbia’s unusually quiet wildfire season ended abruptly as a fire flared in the southern Okanagan, forcing hundreds from their homes. Smoke from the blaze, above Skaha Lake near Penticton, was first spotted Tuesday afternoon and by…
Forest fire continues to grow near town in northwestern Ontario
August 12, 2020 The Canadian PressRED LAKE, Ont. – Residents of Red Lake, Ont., continue to flee the community as a nearby wildfire continues to grow. A spokesman for provincial Ministry of the Solicitor General says aircraft are available to help with evacuations, and about…