Latest news with #BCWildfireService
Global News
a day ago
- Climate
- Global News
Evacuation alert issued for Alberta community due to B.C. wildfire
A wildfire burning in British Columbia's northeast has triggered an evacuation alert for a community on the Alberta side of the provincial border. The County of Grande Prairie issued the alert Friday evening, telling everyone located north of Township Road 714 to Township Road 734 and east of the B.C.-Alberta border to Range Road 131 to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. The alert is related to the Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, burning south of Dawson Creek, which is currently more than 26,000 hectares in size. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The BC Wildfire Service has classified the fire as 'being held,' meaning it isn't forecast to expand beyond its perimeter under current conditions. But the County of Grande Prairie said risks remain. 'Pockets of unburned trees remain within the perimeter, and these areas could support increased fire activity as temperatures rise and wind speed increase,' the county said. Story continues below advertisement 'While perimeter growth is not anticipated, there is potential for spot fires under these conditions.' Residents are being advised to fuel vehicles, gather pets and important documents and medications and enough supplies to be away from home for up to a week in the case of an evacuation. Some areas within the county were forced to evacuate on June 5, but that order was downgraded on June 11.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter injured by falling tree at chainsaw training site
Firefighters are seen during Coastal First Nations Wildland Firefighter Boot Camp in spring 2024. (B.C. Wildfire Service) A firefighter with the B.C. Wildfire Service was injured by a tree strike in Merritt, B.C., earlier this month, according to officials. WorkSafeBC included the incident in a roundup of recent workplace injuries and close calls published on its website Monday. The agency described the incident as causing 'multiple injuries' to one worker. 'A group of workers were conducting basic chainsaw training at a field site when a suspected dangerous tree (65 cm in diameter, 27 m tall), previously assessed as a safe tree for the work activity, unexpectedly fell,' WorkSafe's summary of the incident reads. 'The tree struck a young worker about 30 feet from the tree's base.' The BCWS confirmed the incident to CTV News on Tuesday, saying in a statement that it had occurred on June 10. 'First aid attendants supported the patient until they were transferred to a higher level of care,' the wildfire service said. 'Once assessed, the patient was discharged home.' The BCWS said the tree had been deemed safe 'in accordance with danger tree assessment standards' before the incident. 'As with any injury or accident, an investigation was conducted by the B.C. Wildfire Service and WorkSafeBC,' the service said. Last summer, the BCWS came under fire from WorkSafeBC for multiple violations and missteps that preceded the 2023 death of 19-year-old wildland firefighter Devyn Gale. Gale died while she was cutting a downed tree into logs on a rugged hillside northwest of Revelstoke. Firefighters working alongside her had expressed grave concern about the burning cedar tree that fell on her before it toppled. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Todd Coyne
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Cool weather, rain expected to aid B.C. fire fight but drought persists in northeast
The Martin Lake fire burning northwest of Tatla Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT** The BC Wildfire Service says cool and rainy weather that has helped temper fire activity is expected to continue this week, though drought conditions will persist in the northeast. It says that means that region remains dry and at risk for new fire starts. The service says isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the south and central Interior. The update comes as the Cariboo Regional District lifted an evacuation alert that was issued last Wednesday for properties near a blaze about 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake. The Martin Lake wildfire is now under control, which the wildfire service credits to crew efforts and favourable weather. It says there are about 80 wildfires actively burning in B.C., most of which are situated in the province's northeast corner and were caused by lightning. It says 41 per cent are classified as out of control, 23 per cent are being held while 36 per cent are deemed under control. Three major blazes were downgraded in the northeast last week and are no longer wildfires of note, a status indicating a fire is highly visible or a threat to communities. The province now has no wildfires of note. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 23, 2025.
CTV News
20-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Wildfire of note downgraded in B.C., remains burning out of control
The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire south of Fort Nelson, B.C., seen in this handout photo on Wednesday, June 10, 2025, is now classified as "being held" and is not expected to grow outside its current perimeter. (The Canadian Press / Handout / BC Wildfire Service) A recent soaking of rain in northeastern British Columbia has helped to remove the one remaining fire out of the so-called wildfire of note category, although the Summit Lake blaze is still labelled as burning out of control. Two other wildfires of note, meaning they are highly visible or a threat to communities, were also taken off that list this week. The Kiskatinaw River fire and the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire, were also both downgraded after being deemed 'held.' The BC Wildfire Service has said up to 100 millimetres of rain in some areas has significantly reduced wildfire activity and more wet weather is in the forecast. That area in northeastern B.C. has had repeated years of drought and the most recent drought map puts the level at three on a scale of five, which means conditions are still severely dry. There are about 80 fires currently burning in B.C., most of which are in the northeast and more than 80 per cent are believed to have been caused by lightning. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
Globe and Mail
19-06-2025
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
B.C. downgrades status of two major wildfires in northeast
Two of the three most significant wildfires in British Columbia have been downgraded and are no longer considered fires of note. They include the 263-square-kilometre Kiskatinaw River wildfire in northeastern B.C., which was deemed on Wednesday to be no longer out of control. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire northwest of Fort. St. John, the biggest blaze in B.C. at more than 1,500 square kilometres, has also lost wildfire-of-note status, having earlier been removed from the out-of-control stage. Both fires are now considered to be held, meaning they aren't expected to grow beyond current perimeters, as fire crews get support from heavy rain in northeastern B.C. Outdated forestry rules increase wildfire risk, B.C. Forest Practices Board says That leaves the 800-square-kilometre Summit Creek wildfire burning out of control in the northeast as the province's only fire of note – indicating that either homes are threatened or it's highly visible. The BC Wildfire Service says there is a risk of thunderstorms across central and northern B.C. on Thursday, but the province will see cooler temperatures starting Friday and into the weekend with some areas expected to get heavy rain. There are currently about 85 wildfires actively burning in B.C.
