As some residents of the central B.C. region of Shuswap refused evacuation orders due to wildfires in the area August 23, RCMP faced a group of protestors who had hoped to “overwhelm” a highway blockade. The protesters said they did not believe politicians had the right to prevent them from using the road, and that it was illegal for the RCMP to block it. [node:read-more:link]
Yellowknife residents who evacuated due to wildfire concerns earlier this week are encountering official roadblocks when they try to return. The fact that the fires have not progressed has prompted some evacuees to believe the threat is over but the territorial government said April 23 that it had not cancelled its state of emergency. [node:read-more:link]
Wildfires across B.C. have destroyed structures and forced more than 27,000 people to evacuate as the province remained in a state of emergency today. While some jurisdictions have lifted air quality warnings, reinstatement is always an option and crews continue to fight more than 375 active fires. [node:read-more:link]
With wildfires laying waste to many communities western Canada, Prime Minister Trudeau said today that Facebook’s parent corporation, California-based Meta, is putting profit ahead of public safety by blocking Canadians’ access to “unbelievably essential” local news coverage. [node:read-more:link]
Thousands of residents of south-central British Columbia were advised to evacuate August 18 and even more were on standby due to proliferating wildfires. The provincial government also announced that it prepared to make evacuation compulsory if necessary. [node:read-more:link]
A wildfire state of emergency has been declared in the south-central B.C. city of Kelowna, which has a population of 132,000. Authorities said today that the unpredictability of the situation means that all residents should either evacuate or be ready to do so at short notice. [node:read-more:link]
Thousands of residents of Yellowknife and nearby communities threatened by an encroaching wildfire continued to leave the Northwest Territories capital today after a noon evacuation target. Officials said roads would remain open and flights would continue as long as it is safe. Meanwhile, Mayor Rebecca Alta sought to reassure the evacuees that their properties would be protected by the RCMP. [node:read-more:link]
An encroaching wildfire has prompted the Northwest Territories to order a phased evacuation of the capital city and environs by noon August 18. “The fire continues to advance and now burns approximately 17 kilometres outside the city,” Environment & Climate Change Minister Shane Thompson said August 16. “Without rain, it is possible it will reach the city outskirts by the weekend.” [node:read-more:link]
Canadian Armed Forces personnel and equipment were mobilized today to help the Northwest Territories’ response wildfires threatening several communities, including the capital. The City of Yellowknife declared a state of local emergency late August 14. [node:read-more:link]
The current wildfire season across Canada is already the worst on record and government officials say “significant fire activity” is expected to continue into the fall. Federal data show that the more than 5,500 fires reported to date have ravaged some 13.4 million hectares of forest, nearly double the previous record of 7.6 million in 1989. [node:read-more:link]
Scientists who research forest fires have suggested that a national firefighting force which could be deployed rapidly anywhere in the country, potentially reducing the need for military intervention. A federal official says “there’s no specific discussion” but the head of the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science says the current approach is based “primarily on provincial and territorial responsibility for public lands.” [node:read-more:link]
With 380 wildfires burning across B.C. as of July 15, the federal government is mobilizing military and civilian personnel to help with the fight. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair approved the request to support B.C. firefighters he said have been “working tirelessly” since the first fires broke out in the spring. [node:read-more:link]
As of June 6, a total 424 wildfires were burning across Canada, more than 250 of which are considered out of control. This is according to a briefing by seven federal cabinet ministers who said the current fire situation, being fought by civilian and military responders, is one of the most severe on record and that the long-range forecast is for continued abnormal fire activity. [node:read-more:link]
Thousands of homes under evacuation order as wildfire burns out of control in the Tantallon suburb about 25 km northwest of Halifax. Several homes and buildings have been lost as the fire continues to spread. [node:read-more:link]
Wildfires pose a deadly risk to the environment, the wildlife, and the lives and homes of people who live in their path. California, British Columbia and Australia are recognized as some of the most wildfire-susceptible areas of the world. Firefighters from two of those have chosen a derivative of the venerable Black Hawk helicopters to aid efforts to put out wildfires of all sizes. [node:read-more:link]
