Latest news with #KelownaFireDepartment
Winnipeg Free Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
In the news today: RCMP warn of fire near Kelowna's airport
Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed… RCMP warn of fire near Kelowna's airport RCMP in British Columbia are asking residents who live near a wildfire in Kelowna to be ready for a possible evacuation. Police say the fire in the Ellison area, east of Kelowna's airport, is affecting Rockface Road, Upper Booth Road and Dead Pine Road and that officers are conducting what an RCMP news release calls 'tactical evacuations' of homes in the area. The Kelowna Fire Department is on-scene working to contain the fire. RCMP say the blaze is burning uphill toward Postill Lake, which is northeast of Kelowna, and toward several other nearby lakes that have cabins and campsites. Police are advising the public in those areas above Ellison to leave as a precaution. Here's what else we're watching… Smith and Ford to sign MOU in Calgary today The premiers of Alberta and Ontario will meet in Calgary today to sign two new memorandums of understanding. Danielle Smith's office says she and Doug Ford will sign agreements on energy priorities, trade and interprovincial co-operation. The pair were together at a roundtable in Calgary on Sunday, with Ford tweeting that they discussed how to build new pipelines, as well as rail lines to export Canadian critical minerals and energy. Ford signed a memorandum in May with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew to boost the movement of goods and labour between the two provinces. The rush to break down internal barriers to trade comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada. One study estimates existing internal trade hurdles cost the economy some $200 billion a year. Report casts doubt over internal trade moves A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is dismissing moves by the federal government and Canada's premiers to break down internal trade barriers as little more than 'political theatre.' It lands just ahead of the country's internal trade ministers meeting in Quebec City this week, where they are expected to talk about their next steps as they rush to remove rules hampering cross-provincial trade. Prime Minister Mark Carney vowed throughout the spring election to forge 'one Canadian economy' with the premiers by eliminating internal barriers to trade and labour mobility in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has pointed to studies that say internal trade barriers amount to a seven per cent tariff that Canada imposes on itself, and that removing them could boost the economy by up to $200 billion. But the left-leaning think tank's report released this morning reviews the steps taken by Ottawa and the provinces to remove red tape and argues they will do little to mitigate the tariff threat or significantly boost the economy. Labour groups hope Bay's fall will spur change When Hudson's Bay employees rallied in front of two of the iconic retailer's properties in late May, days before the retailer closed its doors for good, they knew there was no hope of saving their jobs. Their goal instead was to encourage lawmakers to make the fall of the 355-year-old retailer — and all the failed companies that follow it — a little less painful for employees. They argued that could be done if the government adopted their wish list of ideas ranging from boosting federal support programs to prioritizing workers rather than lenders when companies in creditor protection are repaying what they owe. Such ideas were previously bandied around in labour circles when the Canadian divisions of Sears, Target and Nordstrom collapsed. This time, they're hoping the momentum lasts. 'When you're looking for these kinds of improvements, you will have ebbs and flows, but right now, we have an opportunity because the Bay situation is fresh in people's minds' said Lana Payne, president of Unifor. Toronto's Rogers Stadium gears up to host Coldplay Rogers Stadium is set to welcome tens of thousands of Coldplay fans tonight for the first of four shows by the British rock band, as organizers say they are 'making adjustments' to improve crowd control at Toronto's newest outdoor music venue. After the venue's inaugural concert last Sunday, some attendees said it took up to two hours to exit the stadium as the site and transit services seemed ill-equipped to handle the large crowds. Concertgoers also complained about limited access to water at the stadium, with some describing hour-long lineups at bottle filling stations that dispensed warm water in some cases. Live Nation Canada, which operates the stadium near Downsview Park, says it will be adding more signage, lighting, staff and water stations to improve the fan experience. It also says the stadium's exit routes will be reconfigured to disperse crowds to all three nearby subway stations in order to mitigate crowding at the Downsview Park station, which also serves GO train passengers. The Toronto Transit Commission has said it will be adding more staff to its Downsview Park and Wilson stations on concert nights, while Metrolinx only said it would 'closely monitor' GO train ridership levels for events at the stadium. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.
CBC
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Wildfire burning near Kelowna airport prompts tactical evacuations
A wildfire burning just north of Kelowna is prompting tactical evacuations, with crews battling flames near the city's airport. The Ellison Fire Department, the Kelowna Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) are all at the scene of the blaze, which started Sunday afternoon in the Ellison area, about nine kilometres northeast of central Kelowna. The BCWS said the blaze is about two hectares in size and is currently classified as out of control. According to Kelowna RCMP, the blaze is burning uphill toward Postill Lake and other nearby lakes with cabins and campsites. Officers are carrying out tactical evacuations in the Rockface Road, Upper Booth Road and Dead Pine Road areas. "Residents are being asked to prepare for a possible evacuation," the RCMP said in a statement. "We cannot stress enough the importance of staying out of the area. Emergency services will not allow members of the general public into the evacuation zone." The RCMP said access in the forested area is limited and they are encouraging anyone near the lakes to leave as a precaution. The fire is in the Ellison Fire Department's jurisdiction, said Cali Nessman, a fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre. "BCWS is supporting with three initial attack crews, two response officers, two helicopters doing bucketing, four air tankers, and a bird dog aircraft," Nessman said. The Kelowna Fire Department is working to keep the fire from advancing toward nearby recreational areas. The fire is suspected to be human-caused, which the BCWS said could include both intentional and accidental ignition. The wildfire service said it's still too early to predict how the fire will behave, but further updates are expected as crews monitor the situation.
Global News
06-06-2025
- Climate
- Global News
Okanagan fire officials urge vigilance amid early season heat, pair of ‘close-call fires'
With the Okanagan experiencing an early season stretch of hot weather, fire officials are urging the public to be vigilant. 'Although it's early June, very hot weather,' said Mike Walroth, protective services director with the Regional District of Central Okanagan. 'Be careful when you're out, recreating and anywhere close to dry grass, because the grass is starting to dry off and we just want to avoid situations like this.' Walroth referred to a fire that erupted in a residential neighbourhood next to Mill Creek Regional Park Thursday afternoon. The fire started on the west side of Spencer Road, with fire officials saying that it jumped to the north side of the road, where it damaged a house and destroyed a vehicle. 'The fire was moving very quickly and extended into the tree up above,' said Eric Grootendorst, assistant chief of training with the Kelowna Fire Department. 'It required a very fast intervention from fire crews.' Story continues below advertisement The intervention involved 60 firefighters from five different fire departments along with support from the B.C. Wildfire Service. 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 'We saw a rank two fire behaviour, which is considered a low-vigour surface fire,' said Cali Nessman, fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre. 1:54 West Kelowna Fire Chief reminds residents to 'FireSmart' their properties B.C. Wildfire service was also called out to the South Okanagan on Wednesday where a four hectare-sized fire broke out along Green Lake Road above OK Falls. Both fires are suspected to be human caused. According to B.C. Wildfire Service, there have already been 49 wildfires within the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Okanagan, since April 1st. While so far they have all been fairly small, the fire danger rating is going up. Story continues below advertisement 'Throughout the Kamloops Fire Center, we're seeing a fire danger rating of moderate with pockets of extreme,' said Nessman. 'And that goes the same for the Okanagan region, moderate with pockets of extreme.' The forecast calls for continued hot temperatures over the next several days across the region.
