Emergency Preparedness

Fire activity at the Maria Creek wildfire on Aug. 1. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

B.C. wildfires: Blazes in southern regions continue to challenge crews

50 active fires burning across the province

Fire activity at the Maria Creek wildfire on Aug. 1. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
BC Wildfire Service crews are using planned ignitions to control where wildfires are burning. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)

B.C. wildfires: 55 blazes burning, 8 of particular concern

Steep, rocky terrain and hot, dry conditions posing challenges for crews

BC Wildfire Service crews are using planned ignitions to control where wildfires are burning. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)
Over 400 firefighters are tackling the wildfire at Keremeos Creek, near Penticton. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)

B.C. wildfires: 8 fires of note burning in province’s south

Keremeos Creek fire near Penticton by far the largest at 5,903 hectares

Over 400 firefighters are tackling the wildfire at Keremeos Creek, near Penticton. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)
A BC Wildfire Service photo shows fire activity at Maria Creek near Pavilion on Aug. 2. The service says wildfire activity will continue throughout August. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

Intensified wildfire activity expected to continue through August: BC Wildfire

Southern areas will bear the brunt with above seasonal temperatures forecast

A BC Wildfire Service photo shows fire activity at Maria Creek near Pavilion on Aug. 2. The service says wildfire activity will continue throughout August. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
Firefighters are battling 91 active fires in B.C. as of Aug. 3, including at Keremeos Creek near Penticton. Here, they work to implement small-scale planned ignitions along Highway 3A. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)

B.C. wildfire season intensifies with 91 active blazes, 5 of note

Vast majority believed to be caused by lightning

Firefighters are battling 91 active fires in B.C. as of Aug. 3, including at Keremeos Creek near Penticton. Here, they work to implement small-scale planned ignitions along Highway 3A. (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)
Merritt on Nov. 15, 2021, following torrential downpour for several hours, sparking flooding and evacuation orders. (Photo: Bailee Allen).

B.C. evacuees can now get emergency funding through e-transfers from the province

Emergency Support Services e-transfer registration requires BC Services Card app

Merritt on Nov. 15, 2021, following torrential downpour for several hours, sparking flooding and evacuation orders. (Photo: Bailee Allen).
Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, warning temperatures could rise to 32 degrees today. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay) (Courtesy of Pixabay)

British Columbians told to prepare as temperatures set to ramp up this weekend

Province issues heat-safety tips ahead of potential heat waves

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for Inuvik, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson, warning temperatures could rise to 32 degrees today. (Photo courtesy of Pixabay) (Courtesy of Pixabay)
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair arrives at a news conference Tuesday June 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Blair announced an advance payment of $870 million for B.C.’s disaster recovery efforts July 18. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds deliver $870M of promised $5B disaster recovery fund to B.C.

Money to go to rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by 2021’s fires, floods

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair arrives at a news conference Tuesday June 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Blair announced an advance payment of $870 million for B.C.’s disaster recovery efforts July 18. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Mike Farnworth speaks to invitees of the Build Back Better, Together intergovernmental flood recovery forum in Abbotsford on July 14. (Twitter/Watershed Watch Salmon Society)

Flood recovery forum in Fraser Valley focused on ‘breaking down silos’

Governments, private sector representatives met in unprecedented way to discuss rebuilding region

Mike Farnworth speaks to invitees of the Build Back Better, Together intergovernmental flood recovery forum in Abbotsford on July 14. (Twitter/Watershed Watch Salmon Society)
A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Policy revamp might save lives in next heat dome, but so could community, say B.C. experts

Checking in on neighbours, vulnerable could save lives, experts say

A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman speaks during an announcement at Burns Bog, in Delta, B.C., on Monday, June 29, 2020.The British Columbia government has released its new strategy to get the province ready to fight extreme weather. Heyman says the plan includes enhanced roles for the BC Wildfire Service to prepare and prevent fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. urges preparedness and strategy to fight extreme climate events

Communities urged to take steps to minimize the potential damage

B.C. Environment and Climate Change Strategy Minister George Heyman speaks during an announcement at Burns Bog, in Delta, B.C., on Monday, June 29, 2020.The British Columbia government has released its new strategy to get the province ready to fight extreme weather. Heyman says the plan includes enhanced roles for the BC Wildfire Service to prepare and prevent fires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A wildfire burns in the mountains north of Lytton on July 1, 2021. According to a survey 2022 survey by BCAA, most British Columbians fear more extreme weather events. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

85% of British Columbians fear another extreme weather event, but few are prepared: survey

Almost half of survey respondents taking “wait-and-see” approach, BCAA found

A wildfire burns in the mountains north of Lytton on July 1, 2021. According to a survey 2022 survey by BCAA, most British Columbians fear more extreme weather events. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Many cities across B.C. recorded the hottest days of their histories during the ‘heat dome’ heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. launches heat alert system following 2021’s deadly heat dome

System to have 2 levels: warning and extreme heat emergencies

Many cities across B.C. recorded the hottest days of their histories during the ‘heat dome’ heatwave that blanketed much of the Pacific Northwest at the end June, 2021. (Black Press Media file photo)
B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe released a report Tuesday (June 7) reviewing heat-related deaths in B.C. in summer 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Review into B.C.’s 2021 heat dome deaths finds 93% didn’t have air conditioning

Cooling requirements in new builds among recommendations by BC Coroners Service’s report

B.C. chief coroner Lisa Lapointe released a report Tuesday (June 7) reviewing heat-related deaths in B.C. in summer 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A small plane had to make an emergency landing Sunday, May 22, at the Vernon Regional Airport. (File photo)

Plane makes emergency landing Sunday at Okanagan airport

Nobody injured after small plane touches down at Vernon Regional Airport without landing gear extended

A small plane had to make an emergency landing Sunday, May 22, at the Vernon Regional Airport. (File photo)
President and founder of Save A Dog Network, Katie Powell gets a kiss from a dog after bringing bags of dog food by canoe to stranded homes during flooding in Peguis First Nation, Man., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Dozens of experts advising the government on the best way to adapt to the reality of climate change say we need to do more to prepare infrastructure for the threats of extreme weather and get faster to help Canadians recover when their lives and livelihoods are threatened by floods, fires and major storms.THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Resilient infrastructure, faster disaster recovery needed to adapt to climate change

Since the 1960s, Canada has moved from about 30 climate-related disasters a decade to more than 100

President and founder of Save A Dog Network, Katie Powell gets a kiss from a dog after bringing bags of dog food by canoe to stranded homes during flooding in Peguis First Nation, Man., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Dozens of experts advising the government on the best way to adapt to the reality of climate change say we need to do more to prepare infrastructure for the threats of extreme weather and get faster to help Canadians recover when their lives and livelihoods are threatened by floods, fires and major storms.THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski
B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)

B.C. rolls out emergency preparedness funds for First Nations and municipalities

Funding will go toward capacity building for emergency support in those communities

B.C. Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Rice. (Norman Galimski/Black Press)
There were nearly 400 earthquakes recorded in Canada in the month of April 2022. (MAP COURTESY EARTHQUAKES CANADA)

400 and counting: April a busy month for earthquakes in BC

Few regions in Canada escape Earth’s shake, rattle and roll, says seismologist

There were nearly 400 earthquakes recorded in Canada in the month of April 2022. (MAP COURTESY EARTHQUAKES CANADA)
Karen Lindsay, Nanaimo emergency program coordinator, says people should prepare emergency kits to help them survive for seven days and be prepared to check on their neighbours who might need their help following major emergencies. Photo: Chris Bush

RDCK conducting Emergency Notification System test Tuesday

The test will send notifications out around noon on May 3

Karen Lindsay, Nanaimo emergency program coordinator, says people should prepare emergency kits to help them survive for seven days and be prepared to check on their neighbours who might need their help following major emergencies. Photo: Chris Bush
Arrowsmith Search and Rescue helped evacuate residents impacted by the flooding on Martindale Road on Monday, Nov. 15. (Michael Briones photo)

14 B.C. First Nations and communities receiving funds to create new evacuation plans

Disasters in 2021 proved importance of evacuating people quickly in large-scale emergency situations

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue helped evacuate residents impacted by the flooding on Martindale Road on Monday, Nov. 15. (Michael Briones photo)