VICTORIA – 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…
VANCOUVER – 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…
VICTORIA – 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…
As 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…
VANCOUVER – 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…
As 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…
VANCOUVER – British Columbia’s auditor general says the provincial government is working to adapt to the risks posed by climate change but it has no clear plan for wildfires and flooding. Carol Bellringer says there is little monitoring of progress…
Wildfires that hit British Columbia earlier this year and that continue to affect California are among the effects of climate change, says Karen Gavan, former CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Economical Insurance. “Literally California has been burning all fall,” said Gavan,…
LA RONGE, Sask. – A man who admitted he started several wildfires in northern Saskatchewan by flicking lit wooden matches into the forest has been fined tens of thousands of dollars. Donald Halkett Jr. recently appeared in La Ronge provincial…
Historic wildfires in portions of California last month could cost insurers as much as US$8 billion, according to Aon Benfield’s Global Catastrophe Recap for October. The report, released on Thursday by Impact Forecasting, the catastrophe modelling development centre of Aon…
SAN FRANCISCO – California Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers asked the U.S. government Friday for $7.4 billion to help rebuild after a cluster of fires tore through the heart of wine country, killing more than 40 people and leaving thousands…
Insured losses from California’s October wildfires now top US$3 billion – a three-fold increase in just two weeks – according to updated claims loss data from the California Department of Insurance. Fifteen major insurers reported the updated $3.32 billion estimate…