Latest news with #FortStJohn
Globe and Mail
18 hours ago
- Climate
- Globe and Mail
B.C. downgrades status of two major wildfires in northeast
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they aren't expected to grow beyond current perimeters, as fire crews get support from heavy rain in northeastern B.C. Outdated forestry rules increase wildfire risk, B.C. Forest Practices Board says That leaves the 800-square-kilometre Summit Creek wildfire burning out of control in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.
CTV News
19 hours 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
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Spread of measles in northern B.C. brings province's tally to 30 cases
There are now 18 confirmed or assumed cases of measles in B.C.'s north, bringing the provincial tally to 30 infections. The Northern Health Authority first sounded the alarm about the highly infectious disease spreading in Wonowon, a small community located approximately 89 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John, over the weekend. Officials have since revealed there are seven measles cases in the Northern Health region confirmed through laboratory testing, and another 11 that are assumed based on symptoms and known exposure. The health authority said the initial case is believed to have been 'travel-acquired,' and that residents of Wonowon and neighbouring communities may have been exposed to the disease in various settings going back to late May. There was also an exposure risk in the waiting area of Fort St. John Hospital's emergency department in the early morning hours of June 2. Vancouver Coastal Health has reported eight cases so far this year, and Fraser Health has confirmed four. New exposure warning While there have been no confirmed cases in the Interior Health region, officials issued an exposure warning Tuesday about a 'visitor to B.C.' who was recently in the community of Sparwood while infectious. Officials said anyone who was in the McDonald's restaurant on Middletown Place on June 8, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., could have been exposed to the disease. 'Interior Health is following up directly with individuals who are known to have been exposed to complete contact tracing,' the health authority said, in a public service announcement. 'The risk to the broader public is considered low.' According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, it can take up to three weeks post-exposure for a patient to show measles symptoms. Those can include fever, dry cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed days later by a rash that begins at the hairline and spreads rapidly down the body. Officials have asked that anyone suspected to be suffering from measles inform their health-care provider before heading into a clinic, so precautions can be taken to prevent further spread. Worst year since 1998 The spread of the disease has been much worse in other jurisdictions, particularly Ontario and Alberta, which have already recorded nearly 3,000 cases combined. Less than halfway through the year, Canada has experienced more measles cases nationwide than it has since measles was declared eliminated in 1998 – an issue health officials have blamed on declining vaccination rates. In B.C., the vaccination rate among seven-year-olds was 72.4 per cent in 2023, the latest year for which data is available. That's down from a rate of 90.9 per cent a decade earlier, before the anti-vaccine movement grew in popularity, including on social media. With files from CTV News Vancouver's Ian Holliday
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C.'s biggest wildfire classified as ‘being held' thanks to recent rain
The Martin Lake fire burning northwest of Tatla Lake, B.C. is seen in this handout image on Monday, June 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO — BC Wildfire Service **MANDATORY CREDIT** Drenching rain has helped fire crews in British Columbia's northeast get a grip on the largest wildfire burning in the province. The BC Wildfire Service says the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire northwest of Fort. St. John is now classified as 'being held' and is not expected to grow outside its current perimeter. The service says about 100 millimetres of rain in recent days has hampered the fire's growth, and more wet weather is in the forecast this week. The wildfire merged with another fire earlier this month, becoming the largest in the province at more than 1,500 square kilometres. The remaining evacuation alerts related to the wildfire were rescinded Monday, but the Peace River Regional District said new orders or alerts may be issued if the situation changes. To the south, the Cariboo Regional District issued an evacuation alert for properties near a wildfire that is burning out of control in the central Interior. The Martin Lake fire was discovered Sunday and is burning about 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake. The district says the purpose of the alert is to allow people to prepare to evacuate should it be necessary as conditions could change quickly. The wildfire service says the blaze has grown to about 290 hectares in size, and crews and aviation resources are on site trying to limit its spread. It is one of about 100 wildfires burning in B.C., many of which are situated in the province's northeast. The service says most of those fires — including the Martin Lake blaze and the Pocket Creek wildfire — are believed to have been set off by lightning, while 21 per cent are suspected to be caused by humans. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 17, 2025.
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Alerts lifted as favourable weather helps B.C. wildfire fight
Rain in northern British Columbia and cooler weather in the south have brought some relief for residents living near wildfires. The remaining evacuation alerts related to the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire, northwest of Fort. St. John, were rescinded Monday, although the Peace River Regional District said new orders or alerts may be issued if the situation changes. The B.C. Wildfire Service said crews were still on the scene in Squamish to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, about 60 kilometres north of Vancouver, which was declared to be under control on Saturday. The progress in the firefight means evacuation alerts for most homes closest to the blaze have been lifted, while Mayor Armand Hurford said evacuation orders have been issued for two properties due to possible slope instability. "Wildfire crews have been sharing stories of big trees that are usually quite resilient to wildfire, but because of the rocky terrain they're only hanging on by their roots and the roots are being burnt out," Hurford said Monday. "Trees that would normally survive are falling, and the trees themselves and the debris that they've disturbed roll downhill towards the affected properties." Hurford said the B.C. Wildfire Service is now the lead on the blaze, taking over from Squamish Fire Rescue. Squamish Fire Rescue Chief Aaron Foote said the city has an "extremely busy fire department" even without a wildfire. "The calls don't stop outside of the wildfire, so our crews are busy running around all day and night," he said. Foote said more favourable conditions are forecast for this week, with lower temperatures and rain expected on Wednesday. He said there are about 57 wildfire fighters on the blaze, with four tree fallers and three helicopters that continue to bucket areas that are not accessible by those on the ground. B.C. Parks said Alice Lake Provincial Park will reopen on Tuesday after the wildfire forced the closure because the access road into the park was threatened. Kiskatinaw River fire remains out of control In northeastern B.C., the wildfire service said flames are no longer visible from the Kiskatinaw River fire after it was doused with more than 20 millimetres of rainfall over the weekend. But B.C. Wildfire Service fire behaviour analyst Neal McLoughlin said in a video posted Sunday that it "doesn't mean the fire isn't active underground," so crews remain on scene. The blaze — located southeast of Dawson Creek — is still rated as out of control, and is one of three wildfires of note in B.C. Wildfires of note are defined as fires that are highly visible or that pose a potential threat to public safety. "When we receive this amount of rain on a fire, it's going to take several days of hot, dry conditions before our fuel moisture conditions recover and allow the fire to become active on the surface again," McLoughlin said in the video. "So, this change in weather has really given us the upper hand for the next week to get ahead of fire suppression activities." He said the northeast has experienced several years of drought, and while the rain improves firefighting conditions, the landscape is still receptive to fire. "Twenty millimetres of rain is wonderful, but we know there's hot spots still within the fire perimeter, and we also know that there's deep underlying drought, and so within a week of drying conditions, we could see active fire on the surface again, and for that reason, we need to maintain active fire suppression over the weeks to come and wrap this fire."
