How to be safer from fire
It's a flamin' hot summer. The recent FireSmart course for Black Bear residents happened shortly before so much of BC's Cariboo region sprouted wildfires, many of them "fires of note" -- that is, fires that are highly visible, or which threaten people or structures. Communities are being evacuated, looters have been busy...
Opinion: Suggestions for Fair Elections
Houston, we have a consensus. Well, almost. All three parties in the B.C. legislature now support a ban on corporate and union donations, as well as setting a cap on personal contributions. It's that last one that gets tricky. What's the right cap? Perhaps B.C.'s new government should rip a page out of Alberta's NDP playbook....
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...
Fire and Smoke Update from Southeast Fire Centre
The Southeast Fire Centre has issued the following bulletin: BC Wildfire Service personnel are currently responding to 25 lightning-caused wildfires throughout the Southeast Fire Centre. Although some of these fires are highly visible from surrounding communities, none of them is immediately threatening communities or structures....
BC Wildfire Services welcomes first wave of support
The provincial government announced the first of 310 firefighting personnel from other Canadian agencies began arriving in British Columbia on Sunday, July 9, 2017, to help the BC Wildfire Service get the upper hand on the 225 wildfires that are burning in the province. Under normal circumstances, the BC Wildfire Service has sufficient staff, aircraft […]
RCMP investigate accident that claimed life of Grand Forks woman
A Grand Forks woman has died and the 13-year-old female was severely injured after a two-vehicle collision early Sunday near the community of Jaffray in the East Kootenay. Cranbrook RCMP said the collision occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. when an east bound pickup truck crossed the center of the roadway, for unknown reasons, into the […]
ICBC offers important information for customers affected by wildfires
With the province under a state of emergency due to the hundreds of wildfires in progress throughout B.C., ICBC is advising customers to protect their vehicles and important documents and to avoid driving near impacted areas. For customers on evacuation alert: Pack all essential ID and documents in preparation for an evacuation. These documents include […]
Bombi fire quickly extinguished
A vehicular fire up the Bombi, which frightened many residents, was quickly extinguished by the Volunteer Ootischenia Fire Department. OFD Chief George Hamm said the car was fully involved upon arrival of fire crews, with, `fire rolling down the hill because of the oil leak,`and a section of forest about 10 feet by 8 feet...
