B.C. officials face challenges in bringing people home after fire evacuations
July 18, 2017 THE CANADIAN PRESSKAMLOOPS, B.C. – A British Columbia official says getting people to safety as fast-Moving wildfires approached was only half the battle _ the other half will be returning them home. Al Richmond, chairman of the Cariboo Regional District in B.C.’s…
Two wildfires break out in British Columbia
May 24, 2017 THE CANADIAN PRESSVERNON, B.C. – The BC Wildfire Service is responding to two separate blazes that broke out on Tuesday, including one that has prompted an evacuation alert. A fire in the north Okanagan, northwest of Lumby, was fanned by high winds…
Fort McMurray wildfire rebuild gaining momentum as hurdles cleared
April 30, 2017 Ian Bickis - THE CANADIAN PRESSCALGARY _ A long-delayed building boom in Fort McMurray is ramping up as homeowners, insurers, contractors, and officials in the Alberta city clear hurdles that hindered reconstruction after the devastating wildfire last May. While many residents and businesses had hoped…
Wildfire has ‘very very different pattern’ of impacted areas: CatIQ Catastrophe Conference speaker
February 8, 2017 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorWhen determining accumulation of risk, wildfire presents an “additional complexity” for insurers and reinsurers, a speaker suggested at a recent conference. “Wildfire is a really complex peril,” said Manuel Chirouze, managing director, natural hazards and geoscience for the Americas at…
How to Be Ready for Make or Break Claim Moments
December 8, 2016 Dara Banga, president, DSB ClaimsLast May, someone in remote Alberta started a wildfire that swept through Fort McMurray, took out the power grid, destroyed more than 2,000 homes, traveled 590,000 hectares to Saskatchewan, halted regional oil production, and raged for roughly three months before…
Tennessee and Israel wildfires, New Zealand quake among expensive catastrophes in November: Aon Benfield
December 7, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterThe November 13 earthquake affecting New Zealand “serves as a reminder ” of earthquake risk in Oceania, while wildfires — some set deliberately – in Israel, will cause economic losses of over half a billion, Impact Forecasting LLC suggested in…
Canadian couple among the dead in Tennessee wildfire
December 2, 2016 THE CANADIAN PRESSGATLINBURG, Tenn. – A couple from Canada is among the victims of a wildfire that ravaged the Smoky Mountains resort city of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Authorities say 71-year-old Jon Tegler and 70-year-old Janet Tegler are among 13 people who have died…
California wildfire threatens 325 structures
September 30, 2016 THE ASSOCIATED PRESSMORGAN HILL, Calif. – A wildfire in a mostly remote area of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains has now destroyed eight homes and sent a firefighter to the hospital, officials said Thursday. One firefighter was injured and hospitalized, but no details…
Cleaning Up After the Beast
September 2, 2016 Emily Atkins, EditorA hail of glowing embers bounces off the hood of the pickup creeping in gridlocked traffic. Headlights can’t penetrate the billows of greasy smoke swirling in a hot, heavy wind. As the camera pans, pine trees barely a car-length away…
Wildfire still active, 75% contained in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley
August 24, 2016 THE CANADIAN PRESSWEST KELOWNA, B.C. — Visitors forced to flee from a campsite in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley ahead of a raging wildfire on Sunday night will have a chance to retrieve abandoned items. The Central Okanagan Regional District says people who…
Adjusting Fort McMurray’s Firestorm
July 15, 2016 Heather SandersonBusiness Interruption & Civil Authority Coverage Issues with the Fort McMurray, Alberta wildfire
Nearly $3.6 billion in insured losses from Fort McMurray wildfire: CatIQ
July 7, 2016 by Canadian UnderwriterInsured damage from the recent wildfire affecting Fort McMurray, Alta. is estimated at $3.58 billion, Insurance Bureau of Canada’s vice president western and Pacific, Bill Adams, said Thursday. A third of the $3.58 billion loss is commercial property, 5% is…