B.C. Wildfires 2021

White Rock Lake wildfire on July 25, 2021. (BC Wildfire Service)

Wildfire worries continue: Fire risk remains high to extreme over most of southern B.C.

Above average temperatures for many parts of B.C. aren’t expected to ease soon

White Rock Lake wildfire on July 25, 2021. (BC Wildfire Service)
A helicopter with a water bucket flies past the Tremont Creek wildfire burning on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Doctors, air pollution experts forecast worsening health effects of wildfire smoke

Advice for a five-day episode doesn’t work when you’re talking about an entire potential season

A helicopter with a water bucket flies past the Tremont Creek wildfire burning on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Tremont Creek wildfire burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wildfire report author says heat dome highlights need for new plans in wildfire fight

Criticism from local Indigenous leaders about the 2021 response suggests some of the same problems remain

The Tremont Creek wildfire burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Okanagan Corrections Centre. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)

Some inmates evacuated from Okanagan Correctional Centre due to Nk’Mip wildfire

The individuals were evacuated as a precautionary measure

Okanagan Corrections Centre. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)
Garibaldi Lake Provincial Park, near Whistler, by Jennifer Mets. Amateur Photographer of the Year entry.

Wildfire crew looking for newly started fire finds B.C. hiker missing for 2 weeks

Squamish RCMP says the hiker missing in the park for two weeks was found safe on Thursday

Garibaldi Lake Provincial Park, near Whistler, by Jennifer Mets. Amateur Photographer of the Year entry.
Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. says expanding emergency alert for wildfires is a priority, but no timeline set

About 4,300 properties were under evacuation orders Thursday due to wildfires

Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. ranks drought levels from 0 to 5. Drought Level 5 is rated as the most severe, with adverse impacts to socioeconomic or ecosystem values being almost certain. (Black Press Media file photo)

Officials urge British Columbians to conserve water as regions face extreme drought

Streams and fish seeing biggest impact of drought, as wildfires burn

B.C. ranks drought levels from 0 to 5. Drought Level 5 is rated as the most severe, with adverse impacts to socioeconomic or ecosystem values being almost certain. (Black Press Media file photo)
Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

RCMP add officers to help with B.C. Interior wildfire evacuations

North receives rain, no relief in sight for southern areas

Firefighters ignite back-burn on the Deka Lake wildfire near 100 Mile House, July 5, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island’s west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)

UPDATE: Muir Creek fire now ‘being held’ by firefighers

A hot spot had the fire considered out of control yesterday, but crews have now contained the blaze

The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island’s west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)
B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)

Record B.C. lumber profits should go to wildfire fight, Horgan says

Prices have plummeted from May peak, supply tightening

B.C. Premier John Horgan, right, walks with Hardy Wentzel, CEO of Structurlam in Okanagan Falls, March 2019. Horgan’s NDP government has emphasized value added production and redistribution of Crown timber licences. (Penticton Western News)
The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island's west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)

Out of control, Muir Creek fire has grown to one hectare

Wind has spread the previously controlled fire northwest of Sooke

The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island's west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)
Premier John Horgan looks on during a press conference at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. wildfires ‘graphic’ evidence of climate change, premier says

‘Climate change is with us, not just intermittently, but all the time’

Premier John Horgan looks on during a press conference at Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, February 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The Kanaka Bar Indian Band has a bold plan to assist those displaced by the fire in Lytton on June 30. (Photo credit: Kanaka Bar Band)

Bold plan to house Lytton wildfire evacuees proposed by Kanaka Bar band

Proposal includes multipurpose buildings and housing units at Kanaka Bar, 15km from Lytton

The Kanaka Bar Indian Band has a bold plan to assist those displaced by the fire in Lytton on June 30. (Photo credit: Kanaka Bar Band)
The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island’s west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)

Wildfire out of control in Muir Creek near Shirley

Officials suspect the relatively small fire was caused by a person

The Muir Creek fire is north of Shirley, a small community west of Sooke on south Vancouver Island’s west coast. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)
Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

Stay out of B.C. back country while fire risk high, Horgan urges

State of emergency is to help move people out of danger

Trozzo Creek fire 7.5 km northeast of Winlaw in the B.C. Kootenay region, July 17, 2021. As of July 21 the fire is estimated at 1,100 hectares, out of control but not threatening structures. (B.C. Wildfire Service)
Adega’s winery on 45th in Osoyoos has closed until further notice due to the fast moving Inkaneep Creek wildfire. (Adega’s Facebook)

Hundreds of campers and Spirit Ridge Resort evacuated due to Nk’Mip wildfire

Osoyoos asking for more resources as Inkaneep fire jumps to 1,100 ha

Adega’s winery on 45th in Osoyoos has closed until further notice due to the fast moving Inkaneep Creek wildfire. (Adega’s Facebook)
A fallen camp stove was to blame for a small fire that ignited near Kamloops. RCMP said a man was arrested and charged under the Wildfire Act. (FreePhotos/Pixabay)

B.C. man charged after camp stove causes fire near Kamloops

Investigators found camp stove had fallen from a post onto grass

  • Jul 20, 2021
A fallen camp stove was to blame for a small fire that ignited near Kamloops. RCMP said a man was arrested and charged under the Wildfire Act. (FreePhotos/Pixabay)
A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)

Western Canada desperately needs rain but it’s not in the forecast: climatologist

300 wildfires were burning across British Columbia Monday, evacuation orders were issued for several regions

A plume of smoke rise from a forest fire burning northeast of the city in Prince Albert, Sask., Monday, May 17, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Kayle Neis)
A helicopter flies past the Tremont Creek wildfire burning on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘It’s a nightmare’: 300 wildfires blaze, another evacuation order issued in B.C.

Emergency Management B.C. said in a statement the RCMP are working with the regional district on the request

A helicopter flies past the Tremont Creek wildfire burning on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)

Credit union donates $50K to support B.C. wildfire victims

First West is also encouraging its members to donate to the cause

(Phil McLachlan/Black Press Media file)