National

Weekend weather in central B.C. causes 'very aggressive' fire activity

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 05 Sep, 2023 10:03 AM

British Columbia's wildfire service says long weekend weather conditions caused "very aggressive fire activity" on several active blazes in the province's central fire zone.

The service says the area covering the Vanderhoof and Fort St. James fire zone saw less humidity than expected, coupled with hot temperatures and strong winds over the long weekend.

The #BCWildfire Service is expanding the previous Area Restriction for the Big Creek (G60666) wildfire.
This Order takes effect on Tuesday September 5, 2023, at 12:00 noon PDT and remains in force until Saturday, September 30, 2023, or until the order is rescinded. pic.twitter.com/sDpQnXVEaY
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) September 4, 2023

The wildfire service says the conditions increased fire behaviour in the region, spurring evacuation orders and alerts in rural areas by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

In the Bulkley-Nechako, the regional district says it has ordered the evacuation of all properties west of the Kenney Dam due to the Lucas Lake wildfires, and properties to the dam's east remain on alert.

In the Fraser-Fort George, the regional district ordered the evacuation of Electoral Area G due to the Great Beaver Lake wildfire, which was discovered at the beginning of July and has grown to 107 square kilometres.

More than 430 fires continue to burn in B.C., with more than 2070 reported this season that have charred more than 22,200 square kilometres.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

War on drugs redux: U.S. cracks down on fentanyl

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says a continental strategy for dealing with fentanyl will be a key priority during the meetings. The U.S. has already embarked on an aggressive law-enforcement approach, seizing more than 2,200 kilograms of fentanyl in the last month — virtually all of it coming across the southern border.

War on drugs redux: U.S. cracks down on fentanyl

Federal workers to strike if no deal by tonight

Mediated contract negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the government began in early April and continued through the weekend in what the union describes as the government's last chance to reach a deal.

Federal workers to strike if no deal by tonight

Officers to testify at inquest of B.C. man's death

Myles Gray, who was 33, died in August 2015, shortly after a beating by seven officers, leaving him with a broken eye socket, a crushed voice box, a ruptured testicle and other injuries. The inquest began Monday in Burnaby, B.C., with testimony from six of the more than 40 witnesses expected to appear over 10 days.

Officers to testify at inquest of B.C. man's death

Legal door-to-door pot delivery launches in B.C.

Uber Canada says, starting immediately, B.C. residents over the age of 19 can use the Uber Eats app to order marijuana from local, licensed retailers. The statement from Uber Eats says its delivery workers won't be involved because certified staff from the cannabis retailer will instead deliver the order to the customer and verify the recipient's age and sobriety.

Legal door-to-door pot delivery launches in B.C.

B.C. toxic drug deaths in 2023 approach record

It says that's the second highest total ever recorded over the first three months of a calendar year, behind only 2022 when 599 people died. The figures also show that 2,314 deaths due to toxic drugs occurred last year, making the annual toll the deadliest on record since a public health emergency was declared in 2016.

B.C. toxic drug deaths in 2023 approach record

IHIT called in after a body found in Pitt Meadows

Ridge Meadows RCMP are confirming that a man was located deceased in Pitt Meadows. On Monday, at around noon police located a man’s body in a wooded area west of Golden Ears bridge. The police investigation has revealed this incident to be suspicious in nature.