Brief storm brings new fires; little relief
A short storm this evening that many hoped would bring relief to fire ravaged local forests has done more harm than good, according to Southeast Fire Centre information officer Jordan Turner, who said there are four more fires reported in the greater Castlegar area, with more likely to follow. "There are a few fires around...
BC Wildfire Service announces burn out operations planned for the Sitkum Creek Wildfire
The BC Wildfire Service is advising the residents living around Nelson of an increase of smoke surrounding the Sitkum Creek Wildfire as a result of proactive burn out operations. The BC Wildfire Service advised the public in a media release. "The wildfire is located in very steep and dangerous terrain and this burn out is...
Province issues statement on Puntzi Lake aircraft incident
Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson issued the following statement in response to a July 10 incident involving a firefighting aircraft working on the Puntzi Lake wildfire: “On the afternoon of July 10, 2015, an Air Tractor AT-802F Fire Boss amphibious airtanker working on the Punzti Lake wildfire in the Cariboo Fire […]
Waneta Expansion Project celebrates grand opening
The Waneta Expansion Limited Partnership (WELP), a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation and Columbia Basin Trust, celebrated the grand opening of the $900 million, 335 MW Waneta Expansion Project, near Trail today. The official grand opening celebration took place at the facility with project stakeholders,...
Opposition to Site C Dam Continues
The Regional District of Peace River opposes Site C. The BC government ignored the Joint Review Panel's recommendation about the proposed project. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs opposes the dam, and released the following statement on July 10. On July 9, 2015, the Chiefs-in-Assembly at the Assembly of First Nations Annual...
CBT gets $3.34 mill to bring high-speed Internet to the Koots
Everyday tasks that were once done in person, such as shopping, communicating, learning and banking, are now done online. To help Canadians have better access to these and many other online opportunities, the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry and Minister Responsible for British Columbia, and David Wilks, Member ...
Explosive excitement on tap at 2015 Firefighter Games in Pass Creek
The term ‘explosive’ is an exaggeration often used to get people excited about something, but make no mistake – it’s a 100-per-cent-accurate description of the Firefighter Games (see attached video, in which the 2014 opening ceremonies include blowing up a car and RV, and check out the resulting 100-plus-foot fireball). Family...
BC Wildlife Service places area restriction order for Sitkum Creek wildfire
While the Sitkum Creek Wildfire continues to grow — now estimated at 450 hectares — the BC Wildlife Service is placing a public access restriction for areas around the interface fire that takes place immediately. The bans will remain in force until the public is otherwise notified for the wildfire that is now 20 percent...
This little piggy went ... nowhere. Lamonts' pet pigs to call Castlegar home
The pigs have won the day! At a special meeting this afternoon (July 9), council voted unanimously to reconsider the motion of July 6 regarding the Lamonts’ pot-bellied pigs (for full story, click here). “In today’s meeting, council confirmed their intent not to amend the Animal Control bylaw, but to allow the Lamonts to keep...
Fire/downed power line on Columbia, Samaritans step up in a huge way
What could have been a dangerous fire was dealt with by three quick-thinking Samaritans this afternoon, when a power line went down on Columbia Avenue at about 2 p.m., according to fire chief Gerry Rempel. “We were standing outside the fire hall and watched the line go down,” he said, adding he quickly headed over to where ...
