Wildfire News
Prescribed Burns
BC Wildfire Service details plans for burns in North Shuswap
KAMLOOPS - The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says it is set to complete some prescribed burns in a popular Shuswap Park.The operation is slated to begin Wednesday (Nov. 6) in Tsútswecw Provincial Park, formerly known as Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park.In a news release, BCWS says the fuels management project ...
Nov 06, 2024
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Prescribed Burns
Prescribed burns near Williams Lake and Brookmere expected to begin Friday
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. - A pair of prescribed burns will make smoke visible near the City of Williams Lake and along Highway 5 from Merritt to Hope. The BC Wildfire Service says it will carry out a 23-hectare pile burning on Fox Mountain east of Williams Lake in order to reduce the wildfire hazard and restore local Dougla...
Oct 31, 2024
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Planned Burns
Prescribed fuel burns planned near Merritt, Williams Lake
MERRITT AND WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. - The B.C. Wildfire Service is notifying residents of Merritt and Williams Lake that it will carry out fuel burning near those cities starting Friday (Nov. 1).The project in the Nicola Valley will take place along Lindley Creek Road, 3.5 kilometres west of Merritt.Crews will begin burnin...
Oct 30, 2024
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Shetland Creek Wildfire
Ministry of Forests preparing hazards report for residents affected by Shetland Creek Wildfire
KAMLOOPS - Residents impacted by the Shetland Creek wildfire will soon learn of post-fire hazards in the area. The Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) and Cook's Ferry Indian Band (CFIB) will host a pair of public meetings with B.C.'s Ministry of Forests on Wednesday, Oct. 30. An online session will take place fro...
Oct 24, 2024
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Wildfires
Pile Burning
Pile burning taking place in Salmon Arm; smoke expected to be visible
KAMLOOPS - Residents in Salmon Arm may notice smoke throughout the rest of October. The BC Wildfire Service says crews will burn nearly 10 piles at the Rappel Base within the City of Salmon Arm this month. In a news release issued Tuesday (Oct. 15), the service says it's meant to reduce wildfire hazards by removing acc...
Oct 15, 2024
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wildfire season
TNRD looks back on 2024 wildfire season, warns of unstable soil
KAMLOOPS - Thompson Nicola Regional District communications manager Colton Davies spoke to CFJC Today on Tuesday (Oct. 8) to recap the 2024 wildfire season.The TNRD Emergency Operations Centre was active at full capacity for 50 days, from July 1 to Aug. 20.The Shetland Creek blaze grew to more than 28,000 hectares and ...
Oct 09, 2024
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Prescribed Burn
Smoke from prescribed burn expected to be visible from Clinton and Highway 97
CLINTON, B.C. - Residents in Clinton and area, along with drivers travelling along Highway 97 south, may notice some smoke over the next month. The BC Wildfire Service says crews will carry out a prescribed burn on 344 hectares of open range near Wildhorse Creek. The burn is located nearly 60 kilometres west of Highway...
Oct 08, 2024
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Lytton Wildfire
RCMP investigation into Lytton wildfire ends with no definitive cause found
LYTTON, B.C. - More than three years after the village was destroyed by wildfire, B.C. RCMP have concluded their investigation without finding a cause.Fire ripped through the village on June 30, 2021 - one day after Lytton set a Canada-wide record for heat. Two people died in the blaze.Several authorities have conducte...
Sep 11, 2024
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WILDFIRE UPDATE
Increased fire activity expected for blaze burning northeast of Seymour Arm
The BC Wildfire Service posted on Twitter on Saturday (Sept. 7) to note increased fire behaviour in the North Blaise Creek fire burning about 28 kilometres northeast of Seymour Arm. A reconnaissance flight on Saturday morning revealed minimal growth upslope to the east and Rank 2 fire behaviour, meaning low-vigour surf...
Sep 07, 2024
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Sunny and Hot
Don't look now - near-record heat in Kamloops has fire danger ratings on the rise
KAMLOOPS - With the B.C. Interior flirting with record temperatures to end the week, the B.C. Wildfire Service is warning residents that the fire danger rating is on its way up again."Our fire danger rating (in the Kamloops Fire Centre) is currently moderate with some pockets of high," Fire Information Office...
Sep 06, 2024
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WILDFIRE SEASON 2024
Venables Valley families left picking up the pieces after the Shetland Creek wildfire devastated the community
VENABLES VALLEY B.C. - In late July, the Shetland Creek wildfire forced the evacuation of the Venables Valley between Ashcroft and Spences Bridge as the blaze grew to more than 27,000 hectares. Six homes and multiple out-buildings were lost in the off-grid community, with residents returning recently to begin surveying...
Aug 29, 2024
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Venables Valley All Clear
Remaining evacuated properties in Venables Valley given all clear status by TNRD
SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. - The Thompson-Nicola Regional District's (TNRD) final evacuation order related to the Shetland Creek wildfire near Spences Bridge has been lifted. As of 12:00 p.m. Wednesday (Aug. 28), the TNRD says nearly 12 properties within the community of Venables Valley have been given an all clear status. I...
Aug 28, 2024
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WILDFIRE SEASON
Cooler weekend temperatures not the end of fire season
KAMLOOPS- This past weekend's rain and cooler temperatures were a welcome sight for the Kamloops region, but the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the season is far from over. The 2023 wildfire season was infamously destructive.At this time last year, BCWS reported more than 183,000 hectares burned."Right now, we'...
Aug 27, 2024
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Campfires
Campfire ban rescinded in Cariboo Fire Centre
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. - Residents in the Cariboo Fire Centre will be able to roast marshmallows and smoke weenies over a campfire before summer ends. Effective 12:00 p.m. noon Friday (Aug. 23), the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the Category 1 campfire prohibition will be rescinded throughout the Cariboo Fire Centre, ex...
Aug 23, 2024
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WILDFIRE WATCH
Evacuation alert rescinded for Tatelkuz Lake Area 2
The evacuation alert issued on July 25 for Tatelkuz Lake Area 2 was lifted on Wednesday (Aug. 21) afternoon, according to a Cariboo Regional District press release. Residents must be prepared if the area receives a future evacuation order or alert on short notice and are asked to stay out of fire-affected areas.
Aug 22, 2024
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VOYENT ALERT!
TNRD's Voyent Alert! seeing increased usage as fire season wanes
KAMLOOPS - With the downgrading of the Shetland Creek wildfire to 'being held,' and evacuation alerts lifted, the situation has calmed inside the Thompson Nicola Regional District's (TNRD) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Kamloops.While the summer has been quieter than years past, the regional district was still re...
Aug 20, 2024
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SKWLĀX ANNIVERSARY
Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw community comes together to mark one year of recovery from devastating Bush Creek fire
SKWLAX - Sunday was an emotional day for the Skwlāx First Nation as it marked one year since the Bush Creek East wildfire ripped through the land. Over the weekend, the community came together to commemorate the one-year anniversary."Well, I'm so proud of them. The resiliency of my band members that they're able...
Aug 20, 2024
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WILDFIRE WATCH
BCWS: Shetland Creek wildfire of note being held in important milestone
The Shetland Creek wildfire is classified as being held as of Sunday (Aug. 18) afternoon.One of four wildfires of note in B.C., the blaze is listed at 27,956 hectares on the BC Wildfire Service website, but it is not likely to spread further under forecast conditions. The wildfire service posted on twitter on Sunday to...
Aug 18, 2024
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All Clear
TNRD lifts evacuation alert for 80 properties near Shetland Creek wildfire
SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. - The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) downgraded its final evacuation alert related to the Shetland Creek wildfire. In a news release issued Thursday (Aug. 15) morning, the TNRD says 80 properties in Electoral Area "I" (Blue Sky Country) have been given an all clear status. The f...
Aug 15, 2024
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Hullcar Mountain Wildfire
Evacuation alerts lifted for Hullcar Mountain wildfire
ARMSTRONG, B.C. - Some people living near the scene of the Hullcar Mountain wildfire can breathe a sigh of relief.The Columbia Shuswap Regional District and the Township of Spallumcheen lifted the Evacuation Alert for the communities on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 14.While all properties in Spallumcheen and the ...
Aug 15, 2024
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WILDFIRE SEASON 2024
Fire danger rating remains high throughout Kamloops Fire Centre; more lightning on the horizon
KAMLOOPS - BC Wildfire Service crews remain busy in the Kamloops Fire Centre, as there are 59 active wildfires burning throughout the region, with many of those new starts coming as a result of lightning over the weekend."Since Friday (August 9th), the Kamloops Fire Centre has recorded 1,389 lightning strikes thro...
Aug 13, 2024
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UNITED WAY BRITISH COLUMBIA
United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund seeks donations
KAMLOOPS - United Way British Columbia is appealing to the public for donations to provide financial assistance to aid those displaced by wildfire throughout the province.Through the United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund, the United Way offers grants to non-profit organizations that offer support to those affected by wi...
Aug 13, 2024
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BUSH CREEK EAST WILDFIRE
Skwlāx to host one-year wildfire commemoration event
SKWLAX - What was engulfed in flames and dark smoke last August in Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw territory is still charred, but regrowth and rebuilding is coming into view. Skwlāx is preparing to commemorate one-year since the Bush Creek East wildfire. More than 30 homes on band land were lost to the flames, but...
Aug 10, 2024
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Shetland Creek Wildfire
Evacuation alert lifted for 54 properties impacted by Shetland Creek wildfire
SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. - The evacuation situation regarding the Shetland Creek wildfire near Spences Bridge continued to improve Wednesday (Aug. 7) afternoon. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) gave an All-Clear notice to 54 properties in the Botanie Valley area that were previously on evacuation alert. The eva...
Aug 08, 2024
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WILDFIRE UPDATE
Summer fire risk lingers as evacuation orders, alerts ease for two wildfires in TNRD
THOMPSON NICOLA - The Shetland Creek wildfire has been burning for weeks, but the situation is headed in the right direction, as the majority of evacuation orders were downgraded this week. "We do still have about 20 properties remaining on order. Most of those are in the Venables Valley, and those are either prop...
Aug 08, 2024
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ALL CLEAR
Big Bar area evacuation alert downgraded to all clear
The evacuation alert issued for the Big Bar area due to the Chilcotin River landslide was on Wednesday (Aug. 7) downgraded to all clear, according to a media release issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. The all-clear notice is fo approximately four addressed properties in Electoral Area E (Bonapare Plateau)...
Aug 08, 2024
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Spallumcheen Evacuation
Township of Spallumcheen issues evacuation order due to Hullcar Mountain wildfire
SPALLUMCHEEN, B.C. - The Township of Spallumcheen issued an evacuation order due to the threat from the Hullcar Mountain Wildfire. The Township issued the order for the following properties at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6: The properties in Spallumcheen under an evacuation order (Image credit: Township of Spallumcheen).Sp...
Aug 07, 2024
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WILDFIRE UPDATE
Kamloops Fire Centre hit with more than 1,100 lightning strikes in 48 hours, sparking several new fire starts
KAMLOOPS - Residents in the Interior looked to the sky with concern over the weekend, as thunder and lightning passed through the area. Summer wildfire risk is top of mind and the BC Wildfire Service says the Kamloops Fire Centre saw a considerable number of lightning strikes. "Over the last 48 hours, we've taken ...
Aug 07, 2024
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