bc wildfires

President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair rises during Question Period, on April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced more than $400 million in disaster funding for British Columbia communities devastated by wildfires last year and millions more for Canada’s next wildfire seasons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

$416 million in disaster funding comes through for homes lost in B.C. wildfires

The feds earmarked $5 billion in Disaster Financial Assistance for B.C. after November’s flood

 

Emergency Management B.C. is adding ‘broadcast intrusive’ alerts on radio and TV to its phone alert system for evacuation warnings. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

B.C. expanding TV, radio alerts to cover flood and fire evacuations

System ready for spring flooding, wildfires starting in June

 

Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Vaccine policy to remain in place for B.C. Wildfire Service

All B.C. government employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

 

The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)

Cariboo Art Beat workshops combine fire and art

Williams Lake workshops help build bridges between First Nations and government

The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)
A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. So far in 2022, a cool spring has been keeping the start of the wildfire season in check. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cool spring keeping start of B.C. wildfire season in check – so far

38 wildfires recorded in 2022 up until April 14, consistent with past years’ numbers

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. So far in 2022, a cool spring has been keeping the start of the wildfire season in check. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Trucks haul loads of rock on a section of Highway 8 along the Nicola River that had to be rebuilt after it was washed away during November flooding on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Major wildfires, droughts and mudslides last year dramatically altered the landscape, raising questions about the river’s ability to handle the spring thaw. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. communities struck by wildfires and floods brace for spring thaw

Wildfires, droughts and mudslides raise questions about Nicola River’s ability to handle spring thaw

Trucks haul loads of rock on a section of Highway 8 along the Nicola River that had to be rebuilt after it was washed away during November flooding on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Major wildfires, droughts and mudslides last year dramatically altered the landscape, raising questions about the river’s ability to handle the spring thaw. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A home on Othello Road near Hope about to fall into the Coquihalla River, November 2021. (Facebook/Sarah Giraud)

B.C. urges residents to check their fire, flood insurance this year

Provincial disaster assistance not available for wildfire losses

A home on Othello Road near Hope about to fall into the Coquihalla River, November 2021. (Facebook/Sarah Giraud)
B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, left, and Shackan Indian Band Chief Arnie Lampreau (Swakum) view damage to Shackan land caused by last summer’s wildfires and November’s flooding west of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Chief of B.C. First Nation struck by wildfires, floods says moving may be safest bet

Threat of extreme weather is a constant concern, Shackan leader tells public safety minister

B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth, left, and Shackan Indian Band Chief Arnie Lampreau (Swakum) view damage to Shackan land caused by last summer’s wildfires and November’s flooding west of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Black Press Media photo)

Province of B.C. commits to year-round wildfire service

Permanent year-round service expected by September

(Black Press Media photo)
The Snukwa family home was among those destroyed when fire swept through Lytton B.C., June 30, 2021. (Family photo/Salmon Arm Observer)

B.C. begins cleanup, reconstruction of fire-destroyed Lytton

Province covers costs for under-insured properties

The Snukwa family home was among those destroyed when fire swept through Lytton B.C., June 30, 2021. (Family photo/Salmon Arm Observer)
Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. can no longer wait to fight climate change after fires, floods, slides: minister

George Heyman says last year delivered the message that the time to address climate change is now.

Debris from receding flood waters is pictured along a road as heavy rains form an atmospheric river continue in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, November 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Wildland firefighter Katie Devaney carries an axe and hose as she works to extinguish hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. A fire ecologist says new provincial funding to expand the BC Wildfire Service to a year-round endeavour is a welcome step toward preventing and mitigating disasters, while some others in the field say the funds could be better spent elsewhere. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Budget funding for BC Wildfire Service garners mixed reaction from experts

B.C. budget includes $145 million over three years to move to a more proactive wildfire response

Wildland firefighter Katie Devaney carries an axe and hose as she works to extinguish hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. A fire ecologist says new provincial funding to expand the BC Wildfire Service to a year-round endeavour is a welcome step toward preventing and mitigating disasters, while some others in the field say the funds could be better spent elsewhere. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Finance minister hints at changes to BC Wildfire Service after climate disaster filled year

Selina Robinson made comments one day before B.C. Budget unveiling

Wildland firefighter Sasha Terhoch sprays water on hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon, B.C., on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tsideldel First Nation councillor and Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) director Percy Guichon, left, and Tsi Del Del Enterprises Ltd. forester Danny Strobbe are excited about CCR’s trial project using drones to seed forests devastated by wildfires. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

First Nations look to reforest northern B.C. areas destroyed in wildfires with drone pilot

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation has seeded 52 hectares burned in the White Lake wildfire

Tsideldel First Nation councillor and Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation (CCR) director Percy Guichon, left, and Tsi Del Del Enterprises Ltd. forester Danny Strobbe are excited about CCR’s trial project using drones to seed forests devastated by wildfires. (Monica Lamb-Yorski photo - Williams Lake Tribune)
Drones were used to drop seed vessels in November 2021 in an area burned during the 2017 wildfires in the Chilcotin Plateau. (Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation photo)

First Nations use drone-seeding trial project to reforest wildfire ravaged areas west of Williams Lake

Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation has seeded 52 hectares burned in the White Lake wildfire

Drones were used to drop seed vessels in November 2021 in an area burned during the 2017 wildfires in the Chilcotin Plateau. (Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation photo)
Lillooet Secondary School is changing out their mascot, the Wildfire, after several devastating blazes that have affected nearby communities. (Lillooet Secondary School)

Lillooet school extinguishing ‘Wildfire’ mascot due to trauma from nearby forest fires

School says wildfires in Lytton, Elephant Hill led to change

Lillooet Secondary School is changing out their mascot, the Wildfire, after several devastating blazes that have affected nearby communities. (Lillooet Secondary School)
Exton and Dodge Land Surveying Ltd.’s Doug Dodge, left, and Veronica Meister located and plotted property pins in Lytton after the fire. (Monica Lamb-Yorski - Williams Lake Tribune file photo)

Williams Lake surveyor comes out of retirement to help old hometown of Lytton rebuild

Doug Dodge and colleagues returned to survey Lytton, where he lived from 1949 to 1958

  • Jan 14, 2022
Exton and Dodge Land Surveying Ltd.’s Doug Dodge, left, and Veronica Meister located and plotted property pins in Lytton after the fire. (Monica Lamb-Yorski - Williams Lake Tribune file photo)
Properties destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire on June 30 are seen as a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the same fire rises in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Delays push cost to rebuild fire-damaged Lytton to $102M: insurance bureau

No permits yet issued to rebuild homes or businesses as costs escalate

Properties destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire on June 30 are seen as a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the same fire rises in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The White Rock Lake wildfire makes its way down to Westside Road near Vernon on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Contributed)

Did resources sit idle? BC Wildfire Service, province questioned about wildfire response

TNRD informed one goal is to have more communities do FireSmart prevention work

  • Oct 25, 2021
The White Rock Lake wildfire makes its way down to Westside Road near Vernon on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021. (Contributed)
B.C. Wildfire Service crews battle the Mt. Hayes wildfire near Ladysmith, which has burned 70 hectares. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

Mt. Hayes wildfire near Ladysmith grows to 70 hectares overnight

Cowichan Valley Regional District issued a state of local emergency Thursday night

B.C. Wildfire Service crews battle the Mt. Hayes wildfire near Ladysmith, which has burned 70 hectares. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)