B.C. Wildfires 2023

The smoky skies at the start of the Tour de Cure at the Cloverdale fairgrounds on Aug. 26, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Air quality advisory in effect for the Lower Mainland

Environment Canada says it’s due to wildfires in B.C., Washington State

The smoky skies at the start of the Tour de Cure at the Cloverdale fairgrounds on Aug. 26, 2023. (Photo: Anna Burns)
BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)

Evacuation order lifted for some Westbank First Nation properties

Properties on Lindley Drive and Lindley Road have been downgraded to an alert

BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)
The Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country started Aug. 18, 2023 (Contributed)

UPDATE: No change in size of McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna

‘People must remember, the fire is being held, the fire is not out,’ Lake Country’s mayor cautioned

The Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country started Aug. 18, 2023 (Contributed)
RCMP Cst. Borg captured fighting a spot fire on West Kelowna’s Parkinson Road. (Photo- Kelowna RCMP)

Mountie captured battling fire with garden hose near West Kelowna home

Officer notices blaze and jumps in to protect home, RCMP photo shows

RCMP Cst. Borg captured fighting a spot fire on West Kelowna’s Parkinson Road. (Photo- Kelowna RCMP)
BC Wildfire Service said the Little Blue River wildfire is located west of Highway 37, approximately 40 kilometres north of Good Hope Lake and 40 kilometres south of the Yukon border. It is 36,501.8 hectares as of Aug. 25, and it was first discovered on July 26. (BC Wildfire Service)

UPDATE: Province issues evacuation order for wildfire near B.C.-Yukon border

DriveBC says Highway 37 single-lane, alternating traffic, but could close at short notice

BC Wildfire Service said the Little Blue River wildfire is located west of Highway 37, approximately 40 kilometres north of Good Hope Lake and 40 kilometres south of the Yukon border. It is 36,501.8 hectares as of Aug. 25, and it was first discovered on July 26. (BC Wildfire Service)
Evacuation orders have been downgraded in the Shuswap Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2023. (CSRD photo)

Evacuation order lifted for more Shuswap areas

Residents can now make their way home, but are still under an evacuation alert

Evacuation orders have been downgraded in the Shuswap Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2023. (CSRD photo)
The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to the McDougall Creek wildfire in the Central Okanagan Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (BC Wildfire photo)

BC Wildfire conducting aerial ignition on McDougall Creek wildfire

Crews are working to strengthen control lines in the northern portion of the McDougall Creek wildfire

The BC Wildfire Service continues to respond to the McDougall Creek wildfire in the Central Okanagan Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (BC Wildfire photo)
Dr. Melissa Lem, a Vancouver physician and president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, speaks outside Premier David Eby’s Vancouver constituency office Thursday (Aug. 24). The association was calling on the province to put a moratorium on future LNG projects, citing the risks associated with climate change. (Lauren Collins)

Doctors, nurses want B.C. to limit wildfire, climate impacts of LNG industry

Group gathered outside Premier David Eby’s office call for moratorium on future LNG projects

Dr. Melissa Lem, a Vancouver physician and president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, speaks outside Premier David Eby’s Vancouver constituency office Thursday (Aug. 24). The association was calling on the province to put a moratorium on future LNG projects, citing the risks associated with climate change. (Lauren Collins)
BC Wildfire Service wildland firefighters work the Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap. (BCWS image)

B.C. wildfires fuelling conspiracy theories

UBC expert says traumatic events can lead people to conspiracies to try and make sense of what’s happening

BC Wildfire Service wildland firefighters work the Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap. (BCWS image)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers questions during a news conference at West Kelowna Fire Hall 33 on Aug. 25, 2023. (Gary Barnes/Capital News)

‘Pulling together in terrifying times’: Trudeau visits wildfire impacted Okanagan

Trudeau meets with city, regional officials and firefighters in West Kelowna

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau answers questions during a news conference at West Kelowna Fire Hall 33 on Aug. 25, 2023. (Gary Barnes/Capital News)
The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, August 18, 2023. Canadian insurers are grappling with higher risk of wildfires amid a record-breaking season, and experts say rising premiums are just one part of how the industry is seeking to adapt to an ever-changing new normal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Growing wildfire risk puts pressure on insurance industry: experts

Historically, wildfire damage has been a lot less common than flooding

The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., on Friday, August 18, 2023. Canadian insurers are grappling with higher risk of wildfires amid a record-breaking season, and experts say rising premiums are just one part of how the industry is seeking to adapt to an ever-changing new normal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Helicopters attack the Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire on Friday, Aug. 18, hours after it erupted. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)

Osoyoos residents heading home as wildfire northeast of Keremeos improves

The blaze remains at 1,830 hectares

Helicopters attack the Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire on Friday, Aug. 18, hours after it erupted. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)
The Crater Creek wildfire south of Keremeos is an estimated 44,000 hectares in size. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)

Cathedral Lake Lodge confirmed safe as crews continue to battle wildfire southwest of Keremeos

The blaze remains at 44,000 hectares

The Crater Creek wildfire south of Keremeos is an estimated 44,000 hectares in size. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)
North Shuswap resident Jody Evans attempts to control a spot fire left in the wake of the Bush Creek East wildfire that spread through the area Friday night, Aug. 18, 2023. (Angela Lagore photo)

Reinforcements to arrive, Highway 1 to re-open as Shuswap wildfire continues to rage

All evacuation orders and alerts remain the same

North Shuswap resident Jody Evans attempts to control a spot fire left in the wake of the Bush Creek East wildfire that spread through the area Friday night, Aug. 18, 2023. (Angela Lagore photo)
A helicopter flies over Okanagan Lake Tuesday morning (Aug. 22) to assess the Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)

More Lake Country residents heading home as Clarke Creek wildfire is held

The fire reached 370 hectares in size

A helicopter flies over Okanagan Lake Tuesday morning (Aug. 22) to assess the Clarke Creek wildfire in Lake Country. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)
Devastating from a burn home caused by the Walroy Lake wildfire in Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

Kelowna residents return home as Walroy Lake wildfire held

The size of the fire downgraded from 794 hectares to 733

Devastating from a burn home caused by the Walroy Lake wildfire in Kelowna. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)

More West Kelowna residents can return home amid wildfire

On Thursday, wildfires crews executed a 20-hectare planned ignition

BC Wildfire Services continue to battle the McDougall Creek wildfire that’s been burning since Tuesday, Aug. 15. (BC Wildfire Services)
William R. Bennett Bridge across Okanagan Lake. (Black Press file photo)

B.C. WILDFIRES: Travel restrictions to West Kelowna to be lifted at midnight

The provincial government said it secured extra accomodations just in case

  • Aug 24, 2023
William R. Bennett Bridge across Okanagan Lake. (Black Press file photo)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is warning about the risks of fires going unnoticed on locomotives, citing dozens of blazes in a report into an incident that triggered a wildfire two years ago in southeast British Columbia. A Canadian Pacific freight train travels on tracks covered with fire retardant in an area burned by wildfire above the Thompson River near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Transportation Safety Board warns unnoticed locomotive fires pose wildfire risk

Board says freight locomotives aren’t equipped with real-time sensors to detect fires

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is warning about the risks of fires going unnoticed on locomotives, citing dozens of blazes in a report into an incident that triggered a wildfire two years ago in southeast British Columbia. A Canadian Pacific freight train travels on tracks covered with fire retardant in an area burned by wildfire above the Thompson River near Lytton, B.C., on Sunday, August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Fintry residents Real Gousy, Rick Walker and Elsa check in at the Emergency Support Services reception centre at Vernon's Kal Tire Place Friday after being evacuated. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

More than 1,000 wildfire evacuees in Vernon

Most from West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Westside Road, Kelowna and Lake Country, some from Shuswap area

Fintry residents Real Gousy, Rick Walker and Elsa check in at the Emergency Support Services reception centre at Vernon's Kal Tire Place Friday after being evacuated. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)