New evacuation in northern Manitoba due to wildfire threat
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CTV News
16 minutes ago
- CTV News
2 B.C. fires that forced evacuations on Vancouver Island, near Kelowna now being held
There's potentially good news coming for some of the hundreds of evacuees from the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island. Two wildfires that have forced people out of their homes in British Columbia are now classified as being held, although an evacuation order remains in effect for one of them that is burning on south-central Vancouver Island. An update from the BC Wildfire Service shows the other blaze that forced a tactical evacuation of about 25 homes near Kelowna, B.C., over the weekend is no longer expected to grow beyond its 2.5-hectare perimeter. All residents evacuated Sunday can now return home, while Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says three addresses are subject to evacuation alerts, with residents told to prepare for possible evacuation again on short notice. On Vancouver Island, the wildfire service has also updated the status of the Wesley Ridge blaze, which spans just under six square kilometres on the northern shore of Cameron Lake, about 60 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo. The service says it's not expected to grow beyond existing control lines, though the Regional District of Nanaimo website showed no change to an evacuation order last updated on Aug. 6. It was amended that day to allow some people to return home, while nearly 300 households remained on evacuation order for the blaze that is categorized as the province's only wildfire of note. An update from the wildfire service on Monday says the Wesley Ridge fire did not grow on Sunday and was displaying mostly rank-one fire behaviour, meaning a 'smouldering ground fire with no open flame.' The service says crews were continuing efforts to improve containment lines while directly attacking the fire along its northern, western and eastern flanks. The wildfire service had warned that fire behaviour could intensify with hot, dry and windy weather in southern parts of B.C., where Environment Canada has issued a series of heat warnings stretching from the coast to the Kamloops area. The weather agency says eastern and inland parts of Vancouver Island as well as the Sunshine Coast and the Sea to Sky region will see daytime highs reaching 30 C. The mercury was expected to hit 33 C in Metro Vancouver, while temperatures near 35 C were expected in the Fraser Canyon, South Thompson and South Okanagan areas. There are just under 100 active fires across B.C., with 11 classified as burning out of control. About 105 fires have been declared out in the last seven days. This report by Chuck Chiang and Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press, was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
CTV News
16 minutes ago
- CTV News
Vulnerable people lack access to cooling amid stifling heat across Canada: advocates
Another day of punishing heat and humidity across much of the country was shedding light Monday on the situation for vulnerable Canadians who often struggle to access cooling. Heat warnings from Environment Canada stretched from the country's western to eastern coasts, with temperatures reaching the low to mid-30s and humidex values at around 40 C. Officials recommend limiting time spent outdoors in direct sunlight, monitoring for signs of heat exhaustion and staying in spaces with air conditioning like public cooling centres. But anti-poverty advocates say it is difficult for many vulnerable people, including those facing homelessness, to follow those recommendations. ACSA Community Services, based in Toronto's Scarborough neighbourhood, typically sees an uptick in people accessing help during extreme weather events, said executive director Lee Soda. While places like ACSA provide relief for anyone who needs it, Soda said the city needs more public indoor spaces that are welcoming for people to comfortably find relief during periods of severe weather. 'Being able to come inside when it's really hot outside and when it's really cold outside to meet our basic needs is not a privilege. It's a right for all of us,' Soda said. The City of Toronto has a list of cooler spaces around the city where residents can beat the heat in air-conditioned spaces. But clients at Soda's organization said most of those are public spaces such as libraries or community centres that would be open anyway and have a closing time early in the evening, and some have faced accusations of loitering after spending time inside. Clayton, 45, who asked that his last name not be used for privacy reasons, said his experience being unhoused during the summer has been 'terrible,' especially when it comes to finding cooler places where he can get relief from the heat. 'The city wants to seem like we have a fantastic plan in place, but then it's like, where do you go after 8:30 p.m. when it's still 30 some-odd degrees outside?' Clayton said. The City of Toronto said in a statement that Metro Hall, located downtown, is open throughout the day while the heat warning is in effect and is often used by homeless individuals. But the city should rethink requiring people to travel into the heart of the city to access services during severe weather events, especially for those in precarious situations, Clayton said. 'Downtown, you can find a million places to go during the day and get a meal or get out of the heat. In Scarborough, this is few and far between,' Clayton said, adding that some people take buses from neighbouring towns and cities to access ACSA's services in the east end. Spending a considerable amount of time under the beaming sun is something Omar Gooroo said he didn't realize would be a difficult aspect of living on the streets until a couple of months ago. 'You're always sweating, you're always overheating. You always get sweat rash no matter what if you don't shower or clean yourself,' he said. Though he was ill-equipped for the winter months battling the cold without a jacket, being outside in the warmer months was especially challenging for Gooroo when he couldn't find a place to shower or access a computer to look up places to escape the weather. 'I'd rather the cold than the heat because you're not sweating as much,' he said. People can contact Toronto's service request phone number, 311, if they see someone who needs support, the city said in a statement, adding that outreach staff may be deployed to help them. Monday's heat follows a slew of temperature records broken Sunday across parts of British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, according to the national weather agency. A heat warning from Environment Canada remained in effect on Monday for all of southern Ontario, stretching north past Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and east through southern Quebec. Hot conditions were also washing over Atlantic Canada, with most of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and parts of Newfoundland and Labrador also under a heat warning. In British Columbia, heat warnings were in place for Metro Vancouver, most of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, as well as southern B.C's Fraser Canyon, South Thompson and South Okanagan areas. Environment Canada says the heat warning is expected to continue throughout the week, likely ending on Wednesday for many areas. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
CTV News
35 minutes ago
- CTV News
Heat warning continues for southern Ontario
Four-year-old Theodore Wait plays in a sprinkler at a park in Ottawa, Thursday July 21, 2011. Environment Canada issued heat alerts due to high temperatures and humidex values across Ontario. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS) It's another scorcher in southern Ontario and Environment Canada says the heat and humidity will continue into Tuesday, or possibly even Wednesday. On Monday, daytime temperatures were expected to hit 32 to 35 degrees Celsius. With the humidex, it could feel closer to between 37 and 42. The sticky weather will continue on Tuesday, but rain is also in the forecast. Environment Canada is predicting a 40 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon, along with a risk of thunderstorms. The agency also said the multi-day heat event will end Tuesday night for most of southern Ontario, though the heat and humidity could continue into Wednesday for some communities closer to Toronto and Hamilton. Signs of heat illness Heat illness is a serious concern when the mercury rises, especially in older adults, infants, young children, pregnant people, those with physical or mental illnesses, people with mobility issues, those who work outside and the homeless community. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include: Headache Nausea or vomiting Dizziness or fainting Extreme thirst Dark urine and decreased urination Intense fatigue Confusion or lack of coordination Skin rash Muscle cramps Heavy sweating Rapid breathing and heartbeat Heat stroke, meanwhile, is considered a medical emergency. Those symptoms include: High body temperature Very hot, red skin Confusion or change in consciousness Dizziness or fainting If someone is experiencing heat stroke, experts advise moving them to a cool place, giving them water and placing ice packs on their body. Call 911 immediately. Beating the heat The key to avoiding heat illness is to plan ahead. Here are a few things to keep in mind: Know the weather forecast before going outside Modify your plans according to the weather Drink plenty of cool liquids, especially water, even before you feel thirsty Avoid drinks that are high in sugar, caffeine or alcohol Wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing made of breathable fabric Seek shade Avoid sun exposure if you can Take breaks as needed Avoid using your oven Take a cool shower or bath Take a break by spending a few hours in a cool place Close blinds and shades, Turn on air conditioning or use a fan Cooling centres The best way to get relief from the heat and humidity is to seek out a designated cooling centre. The Region of Waterloo has locations listed on their website. They include libraries, community centres, museums and regional offices, as well as public swimming pools and splash pads. Guelph also has a list air-conditioned libraries and facilities open to the public, including the locations of splash pads and swimming pools in the community. A list of cooling centres, pools and splashpads in Brantford can be found here. Protecting your pets Leaving pets inside a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes, could be dangerous. Dogs can experience heatstroke, which could lead to organ failure and, ultimately, death. Signs of an overheated pet include: Excessive panting Drooling Vomiting Collapsing Lethargy Tongue can appear red or hang out of their mouth If your pet is suffering from the heat, it's a good idea to gradually cool them down. Experts suggest using a cool blanket or towel that is wet. Avoid using ice. Owners should keep pets at home when the temperature climbs but if they need to go outside, keep them off the pavement as much as possible, only go for a short walk, or take them out in the morning or evening when it's cooler.
