bc wildfires

Colwood Fire Department believes a brush fire in Havenwood Park on Saturday, July 18, was human-caused. (Black Press Media file photo)

Colwood park brush fire believed to be human-caused

Firefighters expect more calls for August long weekend

Colwood Fire Department believes a brush fire in Havenwood Park on Saturday, July 18, was human-caused. (Black Press Media file photo)
A previous year’s wildfire in B.C. (Photo BC Wildfire Service)

Almost 99% less land in B.C. burned this year compared to 2018

2018 was the worst year on record for wildfires

A previous year’s wildfire in B.C. (Photo BC Wildfire Service)
BC Wildfire Service will be burning debris piles in the coming weeks around Williams Lake. (Photo Gerry Leibel)

University of B.C. study warns wildfire smoke could make COVID-19 symptoms worse

Lead author Jiayun Angela Yao says rapid public health action to limit smoke exposure is vital

BC Wildfire Service will be burning debris piles in the coming weeks around Williams Lake. (Photo Gerry Leibel)
B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter works on perimeter of a fire, July 2019. (B.C. government)

Prescribed burns on hold as B.C. prepares for COVID-19 wildfire season

More air tankers, smaller camps as season off to slow start

B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter works on perimeter of a fire, July 2019. (B.C. government)
A photo taken by the BC Wildfire Service

Pandemic forces BC Wildfire Service to adapt as it prepares for burning season

Many staff are completing other training at home

  • May 11, 2020
A photo taken by the BC Wildfire Service
BC Wildfire Service (Black Press Media files)

Federal scientists predict high wildfire risk across Western Canada

The risk gradually falls over the course of the summer, but remains above the 30-year average.

BC Wildfire Service (Black Press Media files)
Flooding in Grand Forks, May 2018. (Grand Forks Gazette)

B.C. prepares for emergencies, evacuations under COVID-19

Digital registration for evacuees, new wildfire app launched

Flooding in Grand Forks, May 2018. (Grand Forks Gazette)
The Elephant Hill wildfire ravaged the Interior of B.C. (Black Press files)

2017 Elephant Hill wildfire most likely caused by smoking materials

Investigation did not identify who started the fire

The Elephant Hill wildfire ravaged the Interior of B.C. (Black Press files)
The pandemic could be a benefit to wildfire season as more people are told to stay inside, but could impact how quickly fire crews are alerted to smaller-scale fires. (Provided by Chris Jancowski)

Pandemic brings relief and concern for firefighting during coming dry season

‘It’s a double-edged sword,’ says Esquimalt Fire Chief Chris Jancowski

The pandemic could be a benefit to wildfire season as more people are told to stay inside, but could impact how quickly fire crews are alerted to smaller-scale fires. (Provided by Chris Jancowski)
A helicopter battles a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Wednesday May 4, 2016. In May 2016, a wildfire near Fort McMurray forced more than 80,000 people to flee the northern Alberta city, destroyed 2,400 buildings and burned nearly 6,000 square kilometres of forest.A year later, the fire season in British Columbia broke records as 2,117 blazes consumed more than 12,000 square kilometres of bush. Both have been connected to climate change in two separate research papers published earlier this year by scientists with Environment and Climate Change Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Fire Smart: What to do before and during a wildfire

Plan ahead to help lessen the impacts a wildfire can have on your family

  • May 3, 2020
A helicopter battles a wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alta., on Wednesday May 4, 2016. In May 2016, a wildfire near Fort McMurray forced more than 80,000 people to flee the northern Alberta city, destroyed 2,400 buildings and burned nearly 6,000 square kilometres of forest.A year later, the fire season in British Columbia broke records as 2,117 blazes consumed more than 12,000 square kilometres of bush. Both have been connected to climate change in two separate research papers published earlier this year by scientists with Environment and Climate Change Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Local fire crews were on scene at an out of control brush fire on April 21. It marked an early start to fire season on the West Shore. (Twitter/Langford Fire Rescue)

Fire Smart: Tips to prepare your home and yard for fire season

Plan ahead to help lessen the impacts a wildfire can have on your family

Local fire crews were on scene at an out of control brush fire on April 21. It marked an early start to fire season on the West Shore. (Twitter/Langford Fire Rescue)
FILE – The Shovel Lake wildfire burns near the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in Fort Fraser, B.C., on Thursday August 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Eleven small wildfires in B.C. on Easter weekend, but most quickly doused

A cause for most of the wildfires is listed as unknown

FILE – The Shovel Lake wildfire burns near the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in Fort Fraser, B.C., on Thursday August 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Eagle Bluff Wildfire to the north of Oliver, B.C. is estimated to have grown to 600 hectares as of Tuesday night. (B.C. Wildfire Services)

VIDEO: More properties on alert as Eagle Bluff wildfire grows to 1,260 hectares

Properties now under an evacuation notice include an area in the Senkulmen Business Park in Oliver

The Eagle Bluff Wildfire to the north of Oliver, B.C. is estimated to have grown to 600 hectares as of Tuesday night. (B.C. Wildfire Services)
The Beatton wildfire near Fort St. John was one of a rash of early-season fires in the spring of 2016, started in dry grass after snow cover melted. (Black Press files)

B.C. wildfire prevention budget bulked up as dry spring unfolds

Night vision goggles tested for early detection effort

The Beatton wildfire near Fort St. John was one of a rash of early-season fires in the spring of 2016, started in dry grass after snow cover melted. (Black Press files)
The Kelowna Fire Deparment respond to a fire. Photo: West Coast Photography

B.C. fire chief learns from California fires

Chief Travis Whiting and Kelowna Fire Department learn from the devasting U.S. fires

  • Nov 19, 2018
The Kelowna Fire Deparment respond to a fire. Photo: West Coast Photography
Canadian Forces troops arrive in Quesnel for forest fire duty in 2017. More armed forces were deployed in B.C. this summer to help with record wildfire activity. (Canadian Forces photo)

B.C. communities call for wildfire prevention help

Tax, insurance cuts proposed for private land ‘fire smart’ efforts

Canadian Forces troops arrive in Quesnel for forest fire duty in 2017. More armed forces were deployed in B.C. this summer to help with record wildfire activity. (Canadian Forces photo)
Fires set to cut off fuel near Ashcroft, 2017. (Black Press files)

B.C. wildfire prevention fund begins taking applications

Forest fuel program no longer requires local cost-sharing

Fires set to cut off fuel near Ashcroft, 2017. (Black Press files)
Paula Blazinain, manager of Coastal Community Credit union’s Langford branch, shows off the box where residents can make donations to people affected by the wildfires raging across the province. (Rick Siebel/News Gazette staff)

Coastal Community Credit Union steps up for fire relief

Langford credit union accepting Red Cross donations

  • Aug 29, 2018
Paula Blazinain, manager of Coastal Community Credit union’s Langford branch, shows off the box where residents can make donations to people affected by the wildfires raging across the province. (Rick Siebel/News Gazette staff)
First Nations Summit Grand Chief Ed John, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Premier John Horgan and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee speak to reporters in Prince George after touring forest fires, Aug. 21, 2018. (B.C. government)

B.C. VIEWS: John Horgan’s latest reality check on wildfire threat

‘New normal’ is not a solution, just an empty sound bite

First Nations Summit Grand Chief Ed John, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Premier John Horgan and Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee speak to reporters in Prince George after touring forest fires, Aug. 21, 2018. (B.C. government)
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, B.C. Premier John Horgan and Assembly of First Nations regional chief Terry Teegee speak to reporters in Prince George, Aug. 21, 2018. (Facebook)

Forest fuel work needed to slow wildfires, B.C. premier says

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan joins John Horgan for tour

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, B.C. Premier John Horgan and Assembly of First Nations regional chief Terry Teegee speak to reporters in Prince George, Aug. 21, 2018. (Facebook)
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