Canadian Underwriter


News Insurance

B.C. Okanagan wildfire remains out of control

August 9, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – The British Columbia Wildfire Service says a fire in the province’s south Okanagan remains out of control but its direction offers a better chance for containment. The blaze near the town of Oliver has charred nearly 23 square

News Insurance

What makes wildfire modelling so difficult

August 9, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

Predicting losses from wildfire is more difficult than for other natural hazards like wind and earthquake, a risk control expert for one insurer suggests. Catastrophe models that predict losses come from research on how wind and ground motion affects buildings,

News Insurance

B.C. jail added to properties under alert as wildfire grows

August 7, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – A wildfire burning in steep and rocky terrain in British Columbia’s southern Okanagan is defying containment efforts and has grown to nine square kilometres in size. BC Wildfire Service maps show flames are moving through an area of

News Insurance

New wildfire evacuation alert in British Columbia

August 6, 2019 Brenna Owen  - THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – A wildfire discovered Sunday evening north of Oliver, B.C., in the district of Okanagan-Similkameen has prompted an evacuation alert for several properties and the Osoyoos Indian Band. The regional district is advising residents to take proactive measures to

News Insurance

Not doing this simple thing can cause a whole building to burn down

August 2, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

While cleaning roof gutters is often touted as a flood risk mitigation measure, it can also address wildfire risk. Commercial clients in areas at risk of wildfire need to remove all tree droppings from roofs – and that includes the

News Insurance

Fire near Osoyoos, B.C., grows but shows ‘low’ activity says wildfire

July 29, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

OSOYOOS, B.C.- Wildfire crews in British Columbia hope to get the upper hand on a stubborn blaze that broke out last week in the southern Okanagan and has scorched just over four-square kilometres of timber and bush. The BC Wildfire

News Insurance

Wildfire forces entire First Nation community to evacuate

July 4, 2019 Colin Perkel - THE CANADIAN PRESS

A raging forest fire in northwestern Ontario has prompted the full evacuation of the First Nation community of Keewaywin, authorities said on Thursday. More than 200 residents considered vulnerable had already been flown this week to Sioux Lookout, Ont., as

News Insurance

Second B.C. wildfire in two days

June 25, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER  – Crews with the B.C. Wildfire Service are battling another small but worrisome blaze on the province’s south coast. The fire was reported Monday afternoon on Cecil Hill near Pender Harbour on the Sechelt Peninsula. It is not threatening

News Insurance

Cool weather calms B.C. wildfire, traffic disrupted

June 24, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER – A small wildfire is burning just above the highway connecting Vancouver and Whistler. The fire along Highway 99, the Sea-to-Sky corridor, broke out early Sunday morning on a steep, rocky slope between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay. The

News CatastrophesClaims

Military help in Pikangikum First Nation being ‘drawn down’ as wildfire slows

June 5, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

PIKANGIKUM, Ont. – The Canadian Armed Forces says military help is being “drawn down” in a remote northwestern Ontario First Nation as a wildfire that triggered the evacuation of vulnerable residents slows its spread. Second Lt. Christopher Dube says in

News CatastrophesClaims Canada

Wildfire destroys homes in Alberta Metis settlement

May 31, 2019 by Greg Meckbach

More than a dozen homes in a northern Alberta Metis community have been destroyed by an aggressive wildfire and there are concerns that more properties may be consumed. “It’s like a burnt piece of toast up there,” said Blake Desjarlais

News CatastrophesClaims

Wildfires force more people out of their homes in northern Alberta

May 30, 2019 THE CANADIAN PRESS

More people are being forced from their homes as several wildfires rage out-of-control in northern Alberta and blanket areas to the south in an acrid haze. The Alberta government issued an emergency alert early this morning for Chipewyan Lake Village,