Wildfire burning near ski resort forces evacuation of hundreds
August 3, 2022 by Jason ContantA growing wildfire in British Columbia’s Okanagan area has forced the evacuation of more than 300 properties in the ski resort community. These properties, including the Apex Mountain Ski Resort in Penticton, were ordered evacuated as the fire showed “aggressive…
More B.C. heat records fall, conditions prompt flood watch
July 28, 2022 by Jason ContantVANCOUVER – Temperature records are melting across British Columbia as a prolonged heat spell grips the province but Emergency Management BC says it is not anticipating an extreme heat emergency. A statement from the agency says residents should monitor temperature…
What the latest wildfire near Lytton, B.C. reveals
July 22, 2022 by Jason ContantThe out-of-control wildfire burning near Lytton, B.C. shows the community and its surrounding area are at high risk of repeated fires, said Glenn McGillivray, managing director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). The Nohomin Creek wildfire about 1.7…
Out-of-control blaze grows near fire-ravaged Lytton, B.C.
July 15, 2022 The Canadian PressLYTTON, B.C. – A wildfire blazing just west of Lytton, B.C., has now scorched five square kilometres of trees and bush, more than doubling in size in less than 12 hours. BC Wildfire Service spokeswoman Taylor Colman says the out-of-control…
B.C. commits $21 million to help rebuild infrastructure in Lytton after fire
June 24, 2022 The Canadian PressVICTORIA – The fire-ravaged community of Lytton, B.C., is getting $21 million from the provincial government to help it rebuild essential infrastructure and services. The Public Safety Ministry says in a statement the new funding will support priorities identified in…
Wildfire debris removal begins in Lytton
March 8, 2022 Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – The first signs of a long-awaited start of rebuilding in fire-ravaged Lytton, B.C., are expected to begin Tuesday, says the village’s mayor. Jan Polderman said Monday that work to remove debris from the wildfire that destroyed much of…
Wildfire destroys Lytton’s governance records; B.C. gives OK to rewrite bylaws
February 10, 2022 Dirk Meissner - THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – The mayor of the fire-ravaged community of Lytton, B.C., says rewriting the village’s bylaws from scratch will be about as entertaining as going to the dentist but it’s another step in the massive rebuilding effort. The village’s records…
Wildfire that destroyed Lytton, BC was not train-related, safety board finds
October 15, 2021 by Jason ContantThere is no evidence that railway operations contributed to the wildfire that destroyed the town of Lytton, British Columbia this summer, an investigation from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has found. “The TSB has not identified any link…
The claims impact of the B.C. wildfires
August 5, 2021 by Jason ContantWildfires raging across British Columbia have resulted in a lot of additional living expenses (ALE) claims, a property restoration firm told Canadian Underwriter Wednesday. “There’s just a lot of increases on the ALE [claims],” Shane Swinson, senior vice president, insurance…
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…
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…