B.C. cancels wildfire state of emergency, thousands still evacuated
September 7, 2018 The Canadian PressVICTORIA – The British Columbia government has cancelled the state of emergency it declared in August when hundreds of wildfires engulfed the province. The government says cooler weather and progress in containing the forest fires means the powers granted under…
B.C. wildfire not expected to grow further
September 4, 2018 Spencer Harwood - THE CANADIAN PRESSPRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – British Columbia’s wildfire service says precipitation and favourable weather have allowed it to contain one of the province’s largest active wildfires, more than a month after it was initially discovered. After growing to more than 900…
Wildfire evacuees to return to Southend, Saskatchewan
June 27, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSSOUTHEND , Sask. – Residents who had to leave their remote community in northern Saskatchewan because of a wildfire are being allowed to return. The wildfire was growing last week and was 13 kilometres away when an evacuation was ordered…
The new threat facing Fort McMurray (and other parts of Western Canada)
June 11, 2018 by Jason ContantWith hundreds of claims from the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire still unresolved as of late last month, Alberta residents could be forgiven for still worrying about wildfire risks in their own backyard. The Canadian Press recently reported that as of…
Claims, Interrupted
May 8, 2018 Shane Swinson, SVP, insurance portfolio, FirstOnSite RestorationWhy a new breed of storms paves a new course for claims managers
Lessons from the field in Fort Mac
March 15, 2018 Kris Rzesnoski, vice-president, business development, EncircleOn May 3, 2016 a massive wildfire swept through the remote Alberta community of Fort McMurray, necessitating the largest wildfire evacuation in Canadian history, with upwards of 88,000 people fleeing their homes. May 3rd was a turning point as well…
New method can predict where lightning will spark wildfires
March 12, 2018 THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY – Apparently lightning can strike the same place twice after all. A study by researchers at the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Engineering suggests it’s possible to predict where lightning will strike and how often. They say satellite…
Climate change and its effect on insurance claims
December 15, 2017 Neville BussellThe wildfire insurance losses incurred in Fort McMurray, Alberta in 2016 are the costliest in Canadian history. The fire involved residential property, businesses, municipal property and landscape over an area of 590,000 hectares. The Insurance Bureau of Canada Costs estimated…
Lessons for Canadians from California wildfires
December 13, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorRecent record wildfire losses in California serve as a reminder to Canadians that certain buildings separated from the woods can still burn down, a Canadian disaster prevention research executive suggests. Losses from the California wildfires, in excess of $10 billion,…
More than 200 Canadian military members to help police deal with B.C. wildfires
July 21, 2017 THE CANADIAN PRESSKAMLOOPS, B.C. – Hundreds of Canadian Armed Forces members will support the police response to devastating wildfires in British Columbia, bringing some relief to scores of exhausted officers on the ground. About 225 soldiers travelled on Thursday from CFB Edmonton…
Wildfires prompt evacuations on outskirts of Penticton, B.C.
July 20, 2017 THE CANADIAN PRESSPENTICTON, B.C. – Residents of a rural area on the outskirts of Penticton, B.C., on Thursday joined the more than 45,000 people in British Columbia who have fled their homes due to fast-moving fires. The blaze broke out around 9…
British Columbia extends state of emergency two weeks due to wildfires
July 19, 2017 THE CANADIAN PRESSVICTORIA – British Columbia’s new government is extending the state of emergency for two more weeks as wildfires sweeping across the province’s Interior show no signs of slowing. Premier John Horgan said his government’s first priority is to support the…