Wildfire season

Wildfire burning in Kamloops on July 2, 2021. (Kelsey Abraham/Contributed to Black Press Media)

Lightning, heat ignite wildfire season in B.C.; 119 blazes burning

Lightning sparked several fires in Kamloops Thursday evening

 

The Sparks Lake wildfire on June 30, 2021. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

UPDATE: Skeetchestn Indian Band issues evacuation alert due to Sparks Lake wildfire

The fire is still estimated at 31,000 hectares, but smoke impairment is restricting the ability to properly assess the fire’s size

 

Aerial view of Mckay Creek wildfire taken on June 29, 2021. (BC Wildfire Service handout)

78 wildfires burning in the province. Here’s what we know

Destruction caused by wildfire in Lytton still unknown

 

Sparks Lake wildfire on Tuesday, June 29. (BC Wildfire/ Twitter)

Wildfire north of Kamloops grows to 20,000 hectares, 136 properties evacuated

The fire has more than quadrupled in size since this afternoon

Sparks Lake wildfire on Tuesday, June 29. (BC Wildfire/ Twitter)
Flare-ups are seen from the Christie Mountain wildfire along Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C. Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

‘Extremely extreme:’ High temps push western wildfire risk into uncharted territory

Skywatchers hopeful that thunderstorms remain outside the forecast

Flare-ups are seen from the Christie Mountain wildfire along Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C. Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prepare for the worst: 10 steps to get ready for wildfire smoke

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be worse than any wildfire season before it

Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
BC Wildfire Service air tankers and pilots are now stationed at the Penticton Airport, ready at a moment’s notice to fight wildfires. (Western News file photo)

B.C. government wants public to be ‘FireSmart’ this long weekend

British Columbians are encouraged to be careful with campfires, cigarette butts and more

BC Wildfire Service air tankers and pilots are now stationed at the Penticton Airport, ready at a moment’s notice to fight wildfires. (Western News file photo)
Drone footage of View Royal captures the wildfire smoke from the U.S. that blanketed the Capital Region in September. (Luc Cardinal/YouTube)

Wildfire smoke expected to blanket Greater Victoria again

Conditions expected to worsen Wednesday afternoon but not approach levels reached a few weeks ago

Drone footage of View Royal captures the wildfire smoke from the U.S. that blanketed the Capital Region in September. (Luc Cardinal/YouTube)
EDITORIAL: Let’s take steps to clear the smoke

EDITORIAL: Let’s take steps to clear the smoke

Work needed to make wildfires, heavy smoke and poor air quality things of the past

  • Sep 25, 2020
EDITORIAL: Let’s take steps to clear the smoke
Smoky skies greeted residents across Greater Victoria Tuesday morning. The haze even obscured mountain views from Sidney. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)

Smoky skies alert for north Vancouver Island

Smoke from fires in the western United States expected to reach north Vancouver Island this weekend

Smoky skies greeted residents across Greater Victoria Tuesday morning. The haze even obscured mountain views from Sidney. (Wolfgang Depner/News Staff)
Depending on the severity of the circumstances, an officer may issue an $81 fine under the Motor Vehicle Act for littering or a $575 fine under the B.C. Wildfire Act for the mishandling of a burning substance in or within one kilometre of a forest or grassy area. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Chuck that cigarette butt and face a fine, Vancouver Islanders told

Saanich police say mishandling of burning substance can cost up to $575 under Wildfire Act

Depending on the severity of the circumstances, an officer may issue an $81 fine under the Motor Vehicle Act for littering or a $575 fine under the B.C. Wildfire Act for the mishandling of a burning substance in or within one kilometre of a forest or grassy area. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Photographer Douglas Drouin captured the Christie Mountain wildfire above homes in Heritage Hills on Aug. 18.

EDITORIAL: Preparing for wildfires

Good year or not, it’s a good idea to be ready

  • Aug 26, 2020
Photographer Douglas Drouin captured the Christie Mountain wildfire above homes in Heritage Hills on Aug. 18.
The 1.5-hectare fire that blazed through Mill Hill Regional Park Tuesday evening is believed to be human-caused. (Susan Anderson photo)

Brush fire near View Royal neighbourhood believed to be human-caused

Mill Hill Regional Park remains closed while crews extinguish blaze

The 1.5-hectare fire that blazed through Mill Hill Regional Park Tuesday evening is believed to be human-caused. (Susan Anderson photo)
Parksville Fire Rescue is reminding residents that open burning and outdoor fires aren’t allowed. (File photo)

Island firefighters reminds residents to cool it on open burning, outdoor blazes

Campfires still allowed at this time, consult your local authority

  • May 11, 2020
Parksville Fire Rescue is reminding residents that open burning and outdoor fires aren’t allowed. (File photo)
Fire crews were called to the scene of a brush fire near Langford on April 21. (Twitter/Langford Fire Rescue)

Fire departments urge Vancouver Island residents to be fire smart as wildfire season begins

Residents encouraged to clear area around home of combustible debris

Fire crews were called to the scene of a brush fire near Langford on April 21. (Twitter/Langford Fire Rescue)
Two small wildfires are burning near Marilou Creek northwest of Campbell River. Photo courtesy BC Wildfire Service

Wildfires burning northwest of Campbell River

Two fires located near Marilou Creek under various stages of control

Two small wildfires are burning near Marilou Creek northwest of Campbell River. Photo courtesy BC Wildfire Service