bc wildfires

Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)

‘Sense of future’ for Lytton if homes rebuilt by this time next year: B.C. minister

Debris removal is underway, possibly allowing rebuilding to start in September

 

A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Policy revamp might save lives in next heat dome, but so could community, say B.C. experts

Checking in on neighbours, vulnerable could save lives, experts say

 

A young boy is silhouetted as he jumps off the pier at Crescent Beach into Boundary Bay, in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, July 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A timeline of B.C.’s record-setting extreme heat event in June 2021

Environment Canada heat warnings covered most of British Columbia one year ago…

 

The Kamloops Fire Centre is banning Category 3 open fires as of June 30, 2022. (File photo/Black Press Media)

Open burning ban for specific fires in Okanagan as wildfire season underway

It goes into effect at 12:00 p.m. Jun. 30 and will end at 12:00 p.m. Oct. 15

The Kamloops Fire Centre is banning Category 3 open fires as of June 30, 2022. (File photo/Black Press Media)
Category 3 fires are banned in the Southeast Fire Centre from noon, Thursday June 23. Campfires remain permitted. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire)

Category 3 fires banned in Southeast B.C., campfires still permitted

The ban on large fires was announced ahead of the provinces first warm spell of 2022

Category 3 fires are banned in the Southeast Fire Centre from noon, Thursday June 23. Campfires remain permitted. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire)
Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rebuild of Lytton, B.C., after devastating wildfire to begin by September: minister

Residents are still in temporary housing nearly a year after the June 30, 2021, fire

Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Photo- RDOS Facebook)

Expect a home visit from wildfire mitigation experts in the South Okanagan

Homeowners need to be ‘more vigilant in protecting their properties,’ says the RDOS

(Photo- RDOS Facebook)
A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. piloting fire dashboard to help identify communities most at-risk of blazes

Online dashboard will launch in Coquitlam, Surrey, and Port Alberni in July

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Looking towards West Kelowna. (BC Highway Cams)

Equipment blaze sparks in former Mt. Law wildfire area above West Kelowna

A forestry company salvaging timber had a piece of equipment catch fire

Looking towards West Kelowna. (BC Highway Cams)
President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair rises during Question Period, on April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced more than $400 million in disaster funding for British Columbia communities devastated by wildfires last year and millions more for Canada’s next wildfire seasons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

$416 million in disaster funding comes through for homes lost in B.C. wildfires

The feds earmarked $5 billion in Disaster Financial Assistance for B.C. after November’s flood

President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair rises during Question Period, on April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced more than $400 million in disaster funding for British Columbia communities devastated by wildfires last year and millions more for Canada’s next wildfire seasons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The Nk’Mip fire east of Osoyoos caused hundreds of evacuations with many of them seeking support with the Penticton Emergency Support Services. (File photo)

Osoyoos Fire Rescue bracing for potential early wildfire season

The department reported a slower start to 2022 than last year

The Nk’Mip fire east of Osoyoos caused hundreds of evacuations with many of them seeking support with the Penticton Emergency Support Services. (File photo)
Emergency Management B.C. is adding ‘broadcast intrusive’ alerts on radio and TV to its phone alert system for evacuation warnings. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

B.C. expanding TV, radio alerts to cover flood and fire evacuations

System ready for spring flooding, wildfires starting in June

Emergency Management B.C. is adding ‘broadcast intrusive’ alerts on radio and TV to its phone alert system for evacuation warnings. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)
An old burn pile was reignited near the Westwold landfill and discovered May 1, 2022. (Patrick Green photo)

Two fires sparked near Westwold

Blazes burning west of Falkland

An old burn pile was reignited near the Westwold landfill and discovered May 1, 2022. (Patrick Green photo)
BC Wildfire Service personnel continue to work on the Horseshoe Bay wildfire near Anglemont, which grew Sunday, May 1, from 15.7 to 18.5 hectares. (Allen Douglas/Twitter)

UPDATE: Crews get a hold on blaze burning for 5 days in North Shuswap

BC Wildfire Service plans to add personnel to firefighting effort

BC Wildfire Service personnel continue to work on the Horseshoe Bay wildfire near Anglemont, which grew Sunday, May 1, from 15.7 to 18.5 hectares. (Allen Douglas/Twitter)
A Kelowna resident braces for rising Okanagan Lake water during flooding in 2017. (Photo/Carli Berry)

Central Okanagan Emergency urges to prepare for potential disasters

May 1-7 is Emergency Preparedness Week

A Kelowna resident braces for rising Okanagan Lake water during flooding in 2017. (Photo/Carli Berry)
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Vaccine policy to remain in place for B.C. Wildfire Service

All B.C. government employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  • Apr 27, 2022
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Firefighters from around British Columbia participated in the 2022 Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Training Symposium on the weekend. The engine boss training took place in a development in Summerland where homeowners volunteered to provide property access to training crews which were simulating an urban interface fire scenario. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Firefighters participate in wildfire training in South Okanagan

Six Summerland firefighters participated in preparation for upcoming season

Firefighters from around British Columbia participated in the 2022 Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Training Symposium on the weekend. The engine boss training took place in a development in Summerland where homeowners volunteered to provide property access to training crews which were simulating an urban interface fire scenario. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
B.C. firefighters get some boots on the ground wildfire training at Campbell Mountain in Penticton on Sunday as part of the wildland and interface wildfire training. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Video: B.C. firefighters get ‘boots on the ground’ training at Penticton mountain

Water helicopter and controlled burns were part of Sunday’s wildfire training

B.C. firefighters get some boots on the ground wildfire training at Campbell Mountain in Penticton on Sunday as part of the wildland and interface wildfire training. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Fire departments from Kelowna, Lake Country and Armstrong arrived at Penticton’s Evergreen Drive for wildfire training on Saturday, April 23. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)

PHOTOS: B.C. firefighters arrive in the Okanagan for training ahead of wildfire season

Classroom sessions and on-the-ground training will take place until Sunday

Fire departments from Kelowna, Lake Country and Armstrong arrived at Penticton’s Evergreen Drive for wildfire training on Saturday, April 23. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)
Over 300 firefighters from 40 different jurisdictions will be in Penticton this weekend to train on responding to wildfires. (File photo)

Wildfire training brings 300 firefighters to Penticton this weekend

Firefighters will be training at Campbell Mountain, Wiltse, West Bench and Naramata

Over 300 firefighters from 40 different jurisdictions will be in Penticton this weekend to train on responding to wildfires. (File photo)