bc wildfires

Public overview map of the Nohomin Creek fire on July 23, 2022 (Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service)

Nohomin Creek fire holding steady, but incoming hot, dry weather a concern

The fire is estimated at 2,193 hectares

  • Jul 24, 2022
Public overview map of the Nohomin Creek fire on July 23, 2022 (Courtesy of the BC Wildfire Service)
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair arrives at a news conference Tuesday June 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Blair announced an advance payment of $870 million for B.C.’s disaster recovery efforts July 18. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Feds deliver $870M of promised $5B disaster recovery fund to B.C.

Money to go to rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by 2021’s fires, floods

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair arrives at a news conference Tuesday June 9, 2020 in Ottawa. Blair announced an advance payment of $870 million for B.C.’s disaster recovery efforts July 18. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A freight train travels past the remains of houses and businesses destroyed by the 2021 wildfire, in Lytton, B.C., on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The acting chief of the Lytton First Nation says about 30 evacuees briefly returned home in an effort to salvage food they left behind in freezers when a wildfire broke out Thursday nearly two kilometres northwest of Lytton. CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfire near Lytton, B.C., grows to 1,706 hectares, remains “out of control”

Nohomin Creek fire has destroyed five homes so far

A freight train travels past the remains of houses and businesses destroyed by the 2021 wildfire, in Lytton, B.C., on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The acting chief of the Lytton First Nation says about 30 evacuees briefly returned home in an effort to salvage food they left behind in freezers when a wildfire broke out Thursday nearly two kilometres northwest of Lytton. CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nohomin Creek Wildfire estimated at 1,500 hectares was discovered on July 14, 2022 (B.C. Wildfire Service)

Sunday precipitation not expected to help crews fight Nohomin Creek Fire

There was minimal fire activity overnight Saturday to Sunday

  • Jul 17, 2022
Nohomin Creek Wildfire estimated at 1,500 hectares was discovered on July 14, 2022 (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Night time photos of Nohomin Creek wildfire, about two-kilometeres north of Lytton, B.C. July 14, 2022. (Facebook/Edith Loring Kuhanga)
Night time photos of Nohomin Creek wildfire, about two-kilometeres north of Lytton, B.C. July 14, 2022. (Facebook/Edith Loring Kuhanga)
A wildfire started about two-kilometres northwest of Lytton, B.C. on July 14. (Facebook BC Wildfire and Flood Support Group)

Out-of-control Nohomin Creek wildfire near Lytton now 1,500 hectares

Fire is now moving away from the Village of Lytton and Lytton First Nation

A wildfire started about two-kilometres northwest of Lytton, B.C. on July 14. (Facebook BC Wildfire and Flood Support Group)
The wildfire season has been off to a slow start thanks to cooler, wetter June weather. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

B.C. wildfire season off to a slow start, more ignitions anticipated in July

As of July 4, there have only been 217 fire starts — about half of normal

The wildfire season has been off to a slow start thanks to cooler, wetter June weather. (BC Wildfire Service photo)
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)

‘Sense of future’ for Lytton if homes rebuilt by this time next year: B.C. minister

Debris removal is underway, possibly allowing rebuilding to start in September

Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)
A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Policy revamp might save lives in next heat dome, but so could community, say B.C. experts

Checking in on neighbours, vulnerable could save lives, experts say

A man plays a guitar in the shade at Oppenheimer Park in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 28, 2021, during the heat dome event that set temperature records across the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A young boy is silhouetted as he jumps off the pier at Crescent Beach into Boundary Bay, in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, July 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A timeline of B.C.’s record-setting extreme heat event in June 2021

Environment Canada heat warnings covered most of British Columbia one year ago…

A young boy is silhouetted as he jumps off the pier at Crescent Beach into Boundary Bay, in Surrey, B.C., Tuesday, July 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Category 3 fires are banned in the Southeast Fire Centre from noon, Thursday June 23. Campfires remain permitted. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire)

Category 3 fires banned in Southeast B.C., campfires still permitted

The ban on large fires was announced ahead of the provinces first warm spell of 2022

Category 3 fires are banned in the Southeast Fire Centre from noon, Thursday June 23. Campfires remain permitted. (Image courtesy of BC Wildfire)
Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Rebuild of Lytton, B.C., after devastating wildfire to begin by September: minister

Residents are still in temporary housing nearly a year after the June 30, 2021, fire

Vehicles travel on Main Street as the burned-out remains of businesses and properties destroyed by last year’s devastating wildfire are seen in Lytton, B.C., Saturday, May 21, 2022. Rebuilding in the fire-ravaged village of Lytton, B.C., is likely to begin in September, according to the province’s minister of public safety. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. piloting fire dashboard to help identify communities most at-risk of blazes

Online dashboard will launch in Coquitlam, Surrey, and Port Alberni in July

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair rises during Question Period, on April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced more than $400 million in disaster funding for British Columbia communities devastated by wildfires last year and millions more for Canada’s next wildfire seasons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

$416 million in disaster funding comes through for homes lost in B.C. wildfires

The feds earmarked $5 billion in Disaster Financial Assistance for B.C. after November’s flood

President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair rises during Question Period, on April 25, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government has announced more than $400 million in disaster funding for British Columbia communities devastated by wildfires last year and millions more for Canada’s next wildfire seasons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Emergency Management B.C. is adding ‘broadcast intrusive’ alerts on radio and TV to its phone alert system for evacuation warnings. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)

B.C. expanding TV, radio alerts to cover flood and fire evacuations

System ready for spring flooding, wildfires starting in June

Emergency Management B.C. is adding ‘broadcast intrusive’ alerts on radio and TV to its phone alert system for evacuation warnings. (Ashley Wadhwani/Black Press Media)
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Vaccine policy to remain in place for B.C. Wildfire Service

All B.C. government employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

  • Apr 28, 2022
Wildland firefighter Ty Feldinger works on steep terrain to put out hot spots remaining from a controlled burn the B.C. Wildfire Service conducted to help contain the White Rock Lake wildfire on Okanagan Indian Band land, northwest of Vernon on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
An out of control wildfire burns on Snake Hill near Kitwanga. B.C. Wildfire Service discovered the blaze April 15. (Screen capture/Jacob Beaton video/Facebook)

Human-caused wildfire near northern B.C. community now out of control

One-hectare sized fire started day after burn ban implemented, says B.C. Wildfire Service

An out of control wildfire burns on Snake Hill near Kitwanga. B.C. Wildfire Service discovered the blaze April 15. (Screen capture/Jacob Beaton video/Facebook)
The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)

Cariboo Art Beat workshops combine fire and art

Williams Lake workshops help build bridges between First Nations and government

The workshops at Yunesit’in were set up in stations, where different aspects of the landscape and ecosystem were explored and incorporated into the mixed-media canvas pieces by participants. (Cindy Charleyboy photo)
A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. So far in 2022, a cool spring has been keeping the start of the wildfire season in check. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Cool spring keeping start of B.C. wildfire season in check – so far

38 wildfires recorded in 2022 up until April 14, consistent with past years’ numbers

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., July 1, 2021. So far in 2022, a cool spring has been keeping the start of the wildfire season in check. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Trucks haul loads of rock on a section of Highway 8 along the Nicola River that had to be rebuilt after it was washed away during November flooding on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Major wildfires, droughts and mudslides last year dramatically altered the landscape, raising questions about the river’s ability to handle the spring thaw. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. communities struck by wildfires and floods brace for spring thaw

Wildfires, droughts and mudslides raise questions about Nicola River’s ability to handle spring thaw

Trucks haul loads of rock on a section of Highway 8 along the Nicola River that had to be rebuilt after it was washed away during November flooding on the Shackan Indian Band, northwest of Merritt, B.C., on Thursday, March 24, 2022. Major wildfires, droughts and mudslides last year dramatically altered the landscape, raising questions about the river’s ability to handle the spring thaw. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck