How to donate to British Columbia wildfire recovery efforts
The B.C. government recognizes the overwhelming generosity of British Columbians and the various organizations who are pulling together to help those affected by the wildfires burning in various areas throughout the province. Anyone wanting to provide assistance to those affected by the wildfires has a variety of ways to do so. The Canadian Red Cross […]
Southeast Fire Centre calling for possibility of smoke in Boundary, West Kootenay
BC Wildfire Service is expecting smoke from the Kamloops and Cariboo Fire Centres to drift into the Southeast Fire Centre by Sunday Karlie Shaughnessy of the Fire Information Office said in a media release. Shaughnessy added smoke is expected to continue moving through this region, so long as the prevailing winds come from the west […]
Southeast Fire Centre speaks to local smoke/fires
BC Wildfire Service is expecting smoke from the Kamloops and Cariboo Fire Centres to drift into the region by tomorrow and is expected to continue moving through this region, so long as the prevailing winds come from the west and northwest. Although the BC Wildfire Service is responding to a number of lightning-caused wildfires visible […]
Wind will increase fire activity throughout the Interior
A major wind event is forecast to hit the Cariboo and southern British Columbia today, bringing gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour to some areas. These winds are expected to persist well into Sunday. Given the current wildfire situation throughout the Interior, the BC Wildfire Service anticipates that this weather system will lead […]
UPDATED: Environment Canada ends Special Weather Statement for West Kootenay, Boundary
Environment Canada had ended the Special Weather Statement for the Boundary, West Kootenay as of early Sunday evening. Environment Canada said windy and unsettled weather would continue Sunday to push across the BC Interior. However, the scattered thunderstorms never materialized. The Special Weather Statement continues for Okanagan and Cariboo regions of the province. Special Weather […]
Castlegar/Trail area wildfire update for Friday, July 14
Southeast Fire Centre is reporting two fire starts in the Castlegar area yesterday (Thursday) and none in the Trail area yesterday, with a total of 17 fires burning in the Southeast Region right now, according to Fire Information Officer Karlie Shaughnessy. (Both Castlegar Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio and Kootenay Boundary Fire Rescue Chief Dan Derby […]
Selkirk College Featured in Amazing Race Canada
The torrid pace of Amazing Race Canada will rip through the West Kootenay in the July 18 episode (8 p.m. on CTV) with Selkirk College’s Kootenay Studio Arts (KSA) one of the featured stops for the popular reality television show. Contestants and crew filmed the upcoming episode on April 30 and May 1 when they […]
Hiker dies after fall while climbing Gimli Peak in Valhalla Provincial Park
A 23-year-old hiker from Quebec has died in a climbing accident Tuesday in the Valhalla Provincial Park near Winlaw. Slocan RCMP said Tuesday at approximately 2:51 p.m. the detachment responded to a report of a female hiker who had fallen approximately 100 feet down a cliff on Gimli Peak. Gimli Peak is located on edge […]
Canadian Mental Health warns of potential trauma during wildfire season
Being forced from one’s home by a natural disaster is a rare occurrence that most of us will never face. However, tens of thousands of British Columbians are going through this upheaval right now as hundreds of wildfires burn throughout the province. Mental health experts warn that the emotional toll of disaster can be as...
Public urged to stay away from active wildfire areas
The BC Wildfire Service is urging members of the public to stay away from active wildfires wherever they may be in the province. British Columbia's fire management professionals, hardworking firefighters, aircraft crews and contracted firefighters need plenty of room to do this challenging work. The presence of unauthorized...