Around 300 Canadian Armed Forces troops have arrived in Saskatchewan to fight wildfires
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CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Special air-qaulity warning, statements continue across Canada
Watch The on-going wildfires continue to have a dangerous impact to the air-quality throughout the country, Environment Canada recommending limiting time outdoors.
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Officials urge boaters to stay off lakes near raging wildfire on Vancouver Island
Officials are urging boaters to stay off lakes near a raging wildfire on Vancouver Island that has prompted evacuation orders for people on hundreds of properties. The Wesley Ridge wildfire has grown to an estimated 389 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) and is among nearly 150 wildfires burning around the province. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity. At a news conference on Sunday, fire information officer Madison Dahl said 142 personnel were responding to the fire on the north banks of Cameron Lake, about 50 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo. That city, with a population of about 120,000, is about 90 kilometres northwest of Victoria. The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) said 393 mostly residential properties are under evacuation order, which means residents are required to leave immediately. Another 238 properties are under evacuation alert, meaning residents need to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. A post on B.C. Parks' website said an evacuation order was in place for all of Little Qualicum Falls Park, which has two campgrounds, trails and picnic facilities. Douglas Holmes, director of the emergency operations centre for the RDN, is urging boaters to stay off Cameron, Spider and Horne lakes. Those lakes near the Wesley Ridge blaze are being used by helicopters and firefighting aircraft to refill with water, according to officials. "Any interaction between those aircraft and a personal watercraft ... at best, will delay the fire response, and at worst, will be a very difficult and dangerous interaction that we really, really must avoid," he said at the news conference. "So please, please use common sense in this regard." Highway 4, the longest east-west vehicle route on the island remains open, but officials are urging everyone using the road not to stop and look at the fire. Dahl said the fire along Cameron Lake was burning in inaccessible and challenging terrain "with large amounts of available timber." "It is going to continue to produce smoke as the fire consumes fuels along the slope," she said. The region is expected to get cooler in the next few days, but the area is in a period of drought, Dahl said. There might be some rain on Wednesday, but a significant amount would be needed to make a difference in the fire.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Protecting homes the priority as Vancouver Island wildfire continues to burn
The Wesley Ridge fire was discovered just after midnight Thursday and is believed to be human caused. (Handout) Entering day four of the fight against the Wesley Ridge wildfire burning out of control on Vancouver Island, B.C. Wildfire Service says the top priority is protecting homes. A total of 393 properties, mostly residential, are under an evacuation order and a further 238 are on alert to leave at a moment's notice. The latest size estimate for the blaze burning on the north side of Cameron Lake between the communities of Port Alberni and Parksville is 389 hectares. However, BCWS information officer Madison Dahl noted visibility is poor due to heavy smoke and the perimeter map is expected to change as it clears. Related: Full coverage of B.C.'s 2025 wildfire season At a news conference Sunday, she said there are currently 142 personnel working on the fire, including 65 firefighters, two fallers and about 75 structure protection specialists. Helping with the effort are seven pieces of heavy equipment and seven helicopters, two with night vision. Firefighters from surrounding municipal departments are helping protect structures. Dahl said crews are prioritizing protecting 'residences, values and critical infrastructure.' She said that active flame has not reached the neighbourhood of Little Qualicum River Village. 'However, there's a lot of risk that goes along with wildfire. Wildfires can spot into areas, and so structure protection is necessary, regardless of where the actual flame front is,' she said. On the firefighting front, heavy equipment is establishing control lines, aircraft are dropping buckets of water to cool down the fire to make conditions safer for ground crews, and BCWS is working on establishing 'large-scale water delivery systems.' The south edge of the fire is burning in inaccessible terrain with lots of timber, which will continue to make smoke. BCWS reminded people to stay off of Cameron Lake, and nearby Horne and Spider lakes so aircraft can collect water. 'We're urging the public to use common sense. Please keep boats away from areas where tankers and aircraft are operating. If there are aircraft in your area, boaters are required to dock immediately,' Dahl said. 'Aircraft require quite a bit of space for approach, filling and departures, and if there is interference, the mission will have to be aborted.' Douglas Holmes, the Emergency Operations Centre director for the Nanaimo Regional District, thanked residents for a smooth evacuation, saying everyone was out by 9 p.m. Saturday night. The reception centre in Qualicum Beach remains open 24 hours a day, and there is accommodation for evacuees with nowhere else to stay. Holmes said people have been asking if they can drop of clothes and food for evacuees, but the reception centre cannot accept donations. 'We do not have space or people to manage and handle donations, so despite the generosity and great intentions of folks, we really ask that you please hold off at this time,' he said. He reminded evacuees to register online at or in-person at the reception centre.
