Latest news with #BritishColumbia
CTV News
an hour ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Two major wildfires in northeast B.C. are downgraded, leaving just one fire of note
The Kiskatinaw River wildfire burns south of Dawson Creek, B.C. in this Thursday, June 5, 2025, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, B.C. Wildfire Service *MANDATORY CREDIT* Two of the three most significant wildfires in British Columbia have been downgraded and are no longer considered fires of note. They include the 263-square-kilometre Kiskatinaw River wildfire in northeastern B.C., which was deemed on Wednesday to be no longer out of control. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire northwest of Fort. St. John, the biggest blaze in B.C. at more than 1,500 square kilometres, has also lost wildfire-of-note status, having earlier been removed from the out-of-control stage. Both fires are now considered to be held, meaning they aren't expected to grow beyond current perimeters, as fire crews get support from heavy rain in northeastern B.C. That leaves the 800-square-kilometre Summit Creek wildfire burning out of control in the northeast as the province's only fire of note — indicating that either homes are threatened or it's highly visible. The BC Wildfire Service says there is a risk of thunderstorms across central and northern B.C. on Thursday, but the province will see cooler temperatures starting Friday and into the weekend with some areas expected to get heavy rain. There are currently about 85 wildfires actively burning in B.C. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 19, 2025.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Shots fired at Surrey business while staff inside, police say
A Surrey Police Service patch is seen on an officer's uniform in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Vehicles and buildings were damaged when shots were fired in Surrey early Thursday morning, according to authorities, who say no one was injured. Police were called to a business on 116 Avenue near 128 Street at 3 a.m., the Surrey Police Service said in a news release. 'Officers arrived on scene and located several bullet casings and damage to buildings and vehicles. Officers determined that there were no injuries to anyone despite staff being on scene at the time of the shots being fired,' the statement from the department said. The shots fired report came less than 24 hours after police were dispatched to investigate an incident at the same location. 'Suspects used gasoline to damage vehicles but were scared off by on-site security,' the SPS said. Police have not said if these incidents are related to ongoing extortion threats in the city, but did say 'connections to other incidents and potential motives are still being explored.' Anyone with information about these incidents is urged to call 604-599-0502 and quote file number 25-50413. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477.
CTV News
an hour ago
- General
- CTV News
B.C. Forest Practices Board says forestry changes could reduce wildfire risk
A helicopter works on the Dryden Creek wildfire north of Squamish, B.C., on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin British Columbia's Forest Practices Board says a two-year investigation has found 'outdated rules and unclear responsibility' are stopping forestry from becoming a wildfire prevention tool. The board — an independent body that audits B.C. forest practices — says it examined forestry operations between 2019 and 2022 in areas where communities and forests meet, including the Sea to Sky, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Peace districts. It says fire hazard assessments are a 'cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction,' and while the industry assessments met 70 per cent of the requirements, fewer than one-quarter were completed on time. The board says municipalities are excluded from the definition of legal interface, a term used for fires burning close to homes, which means logging debris can remain for up to 30 months, even in high-risk areas. The report makes five recommendations to the province that it says would help support 'faster fuel cleanup, better co-ordination and more consistent protection for people and communities throughout B.C.' The suggestions include encouraging forest operators to actively reduce fire risk, improve co-ordination between government and industry, update legal definitions to add municipalities in the interface, modernize hazard assessment guidelines and incentivize faster logging cleanup. Board chair Keith Atkinson says more than a million B.C. residents live in areas with high or extreme wildfire risk. 'Foresters are already active in these spaces. With better rules and incentives, their efforts can become part of the wildfire solution,' he says in the release. 'This is an opportunity to improve our policies and processes toward proactive, risk-reducing forestry. It starts with better policy and ends with safer, more fire-resilient communities.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. The Canadian Press
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
B.C. Forest Practices Board says forestry changes could reduce wildfire risk
VICTORIA — British Columbia's Forest Practices Board says a two-year investigation has found "outdated rules and unclear responsibility" are stopping forestry from becoming a wildfire prevention tool. The board — an independent body that audits B.C. forest practices — says it examined forestry operations between 2019 and 2022 in areas where communities and forests meet, including the Sea to Sky, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Peace districts. It says fire hazard assessments are a "cornerstone of wildfire risk reduction," and while the industry assessments met 70 per cent of the requirements, fewer than one-quarter were completed on time. The board says municipalities are excluded from the definition of legal interface, a term used for fires burning close to homes, which means logging debris can remain for up to 30 months, even in high-risk areas. The report makes five recommendations to the province that it says would help support "faster fuel cleanup, better co-ordination and more consistent protection for people and communities throughout B.C." The suggestions include encouraging forest operators to actively reduce fire risk, improve co-ordination between government and industry, update legal definitions to add municipalities in the interface, modernize hazard assessment guidelines and incentivize faster logging cleanup. Board chair Keith Atkinson says more than a million B.C. residents live in areas with high or extreme wildfire risk. "Foresters are already active in these spaces. With better rules and incentives, their efforts can become part of the wildfire solution," he says in the release. "This is an opportunity to improve our policies and processes toward proactive, risk-reducing forestry. It starts with better policy and ends with safer, more fire-resilient communities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2025. The Canadian Press
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Forgetful' $40M lotto winner from Vancouver had winning ticket sitting in his bag for weeks
Daniel Chau, who won a $40 million LottoMax jackpot is shown in this photo provided by the B.C. Lottery Corporation. B.C.'s newest multimillionaire claimed his prize Thursday, describing the fateful moment last month when he purchased the winning ticket for the May 23 draw after a run in Burnaby's Central Park. 'Something really pushed me to buy that ticket without any planning,' he said. That ticket would sit in his bag for another three weeks until a tickle in his throat prompted him to reach for a cough drop earlier this week. 'I buy lots of tickets but I rarely check them. To be honest, I'm very forgetful,' he said, adding that he scanned one ticket that didn't win anything before scanning the second. 'I literally dropped my phone. I have never seen that many zeroes in my life.' Chau has since shared the news with his partner, who he says was incredulous when presented with a screenshot from the BC Lottery Corporation app. 'It took like an hour to convince them this was my ticket,' Chau said. 'We are, like, walking on cloud nine. We are so happy.' Amid the overwhelming emotion, Chau said he is also trying to be rational and practical – saying he will be hiring a financial planner to help him figure out how to manage the windfall responsibly. His plans for the money so far include buying a home for himself and his partner, and one for his parents. 'I want to contribute back to the community, because I know this might be a life-changing experience to me, and I want to use a part of it to change other people's life as well,' Chau said. Checking some destinations he's been saving up money to travel to off of his 'bucket list' is also something Chau says he looks forward to doing. For now, he said he's just trying to enjoy the ride. 'It's like a roller coaster. I love roller coasters,' Chau said. The odds of winning the LottoMax jackpot are one in 33,294,800 per $5 play, according to BCLC. Chau's win marks the second time in a month that someone in B.C. has taken home tens of millions of dollars. Surrey resident Justin Simporios claimed an $80-million prize in the May 9 draw, making him the winner of the largest jackpot ever claimed by a single Canadian.
