Keyword
wildfires
B.C. budget includes $2.1B in disaster relief
February 23, 2022 Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – British Columbia has earmarked $2.1 billion to fund disaster recovery efforts and future response to the threats posed by wildfires, floods and heat waves in a budget that forecasts a $5.5-billion deficit. Finance Minister Selina Robinson said Tuesday…
Evacuation orders and alerts drop in B.C. as number of wildfires holds steady
August 25, 2021 The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Emergency Management BC says about 3,700 properties were on evacuation order on Wednesday, down from nearly 8,200 a week ago. A news release says nearly 11,300 properties were on evacuation alert – which means people must be ready…
Crews fighting wildfires in B.C. aided by cooler and unseasonably low temperatures
August 24, 2021 The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – The BC Wildfire Service says cooler and below seasonal average temperatures have helped crews fight the blazes. Fire information officer Taylor Colman says crews are seeing between three and five fires start each day compared with about 40…
Sixth First Nation in northwestern Ontario evacuating due to forest fires
August 5, 2021 The Canadian PressTORONTO – Members of a sixth First Nation in northwestern Ontario are being evacuated due to the threat posed by wildfires. The Ontario government says about 200 members of the Wabaseemoong First Nation are expected to be evacuated from the…
Hundreds more ordered out of their homes in B.C. by threatening wildfires
July 21, 2021 The Canadian PressHundreds more British Columbians have joined the thousands already forced from their homes by wildfires as several local governments ordered residents to get out Tuesday night ahead of nearby blazes. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary declared a local state…
Edmonton fire chief says people must adapt to more wildfires
January 21, 2020 Bob Weber - THE CANADIAN PRESSEDMONTON – In a few weeks, Ken Block will hang up his uniform as head of Edmonton Fire Rescue and head Down Under to assume command of 5,000 firefighters in Australia. “I’m really looking forward to getting over there,” the…
B.C. wildfire season now second worst in province’s history
August 27, 2018 The Canadian PressVICTORIA – A year after the single worst season for wildfires in British Columbia’s history, government statistics indicate the 2018 wildfire season has already reached the second-worst mark, burning more than 9,450 square kilometres of land so far. That should…
How smoke from B.C. wildfires affects this industry
August 24, 2018 Beth Leighton - THE CANADIAN PRESSVANCOUVER – Winemakers can only hope the scent of smoke that’s in the air across British Columbia from wildfires won’t swirl in the glass once this year’s vintages have been bottled. Smoke-shrouded grapes can give an ashy, bitter flavour to…
B.C. declares provincial state of emergency over wildfires
August 15, 2018 The Canadian PressVICTORIA – The British Columbia government has declared a provincial state of emergency to support the response to the hundreds of wildfires burning across the province. The state of emergency will remain in effect for 14 days, but can be…
Should Canada reconsider how it finances wildfire suppression?
August 13, 2018 by Jason ContantAs hundreds of wildfires burn across British Columbia, one disaster mitigation expert is recommending that Canada reconsiders how it finances fire suppression costs. Last year, B.C. alone paid out more than $560 million in fire suppression costs, and it is…
Wildfires ravage 30-45% of structures in B.C. community
August 8, 2018 The Canadian PressVANCOUVER – Wildfires have ravaged 27 structures in Telegraph Creek, representing 30 to 45 per cent of buildings in the small northwestern British Columbia community, officials say. Tahltan Band Chief Rick McLean said in a video posted to Facebook on…
Ask B.C. residents if they are covered for wildfire. 25% will tell you this…
March 21, 2018 by Jason ContantAs many as 25% of British Columbians say they don’t know if they have insurance for wildfire and severe weather emergencies, according to a survey released Monday by the provincial public safety ministry. Fewer than half of British Columbians have…