Keyword
wildfire
Regulator orders risk reduction measures for B.C. railways following Lytton fire
July 13, 2021 by Jason ContantFollowing record heat and a wildfire that burned down about 90% of the village of Lytton, B.C., Canada’s transportation regulator has ordered fire monitoring, suppression, and risk reduction measures for railways to protect against wildfire “in the context of extreme…
First Nations seek emergency declaration from province over northern Ontario wildfires
July 13, 2021 The Canadian PressTHUNDER BAY, Ont. – An organization representing 49 First Nations in northern Ontario is urging the province to declare a state of emergency over wildfires that it says are threatening several remote communities. The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says the declaration…
B.C. premier says he will lobby PM to enlist military for wildfire prevention duty
July 9, 2021 Dirk Meissner, The Canadian PressCOQUITLAM, B.C. — British Columbia Premier John Horgan says he will lobby Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deploy Canada’s military to help clear fire danger zones to prevent future wildfires. Trudeau and Horgan met Thursday with local government and First…
Evacuation alerts issued for areas near two out-of-control wildfires in B.C. Interior
June 30, 2021 The Canadian PressThe B.C. Wildfire Service is dealing with two out-of-control blazes in the Interior that have prompted evacuation alerts. The McKay Creek fire was discovered Tuesday burning about 23 kilometres north of Lillooet, and has grown to approximately 50 square kilometres…
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…