Halifax wildfire caused by human action: DNR
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Globe and Mail
29 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Rain calms wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C., with more wet weather expected
Firefighters on Vancouver Island say overnight rain has helped calm an out-of-control wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C. The BC Wildfire Service says about seven millimetres of rain overnight has lowered the behaviour of the Mount Underwood blaze 'to mainly a smouldering ground fire.' It says in an update that up to 30 millimetres more is expected today, but it won't be enough to fully suppress the blaze and the rains could affect slope stability and cause problems with rockfalls and dangerous trees. Smoke from the Mount Underwood fire has triggered an air-quality statement in the region, along with parts of Vancouver Island's east coast and the Sunshine Coast on the B.C. mainland. The intense wildfire has grown to more than 34 square kilometres this week, at times displaying aggressive fire behaviour that the BC Wildfire Service called 'unusual' for Vancouver Island, before it moderated on Thursday. Vancouver Island fishing hot spot Bamfield grapples with prolonged power outage as wildfire burns Wildfire smoke map: Smoke poses high risk to health in St. John's, Halifax and Yellowknife The fire has cut off power and main road access to Bamfield, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, about 200 kilometres northwest of Victoria, and Parks Canada says it is starting to limit visits to the popular West Coast Trail in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. 'While rain and cooler conditions are expected, this will not completely suppress the fire, although it is expected to reduce fire behaviour and assist in slowing growth, dependent on how much rain we receive,' the wildfire service said in an update on Friday. The Huu-ay-aht First Nations says it has cancelled all Bamfield reservations up to Tuesday, and local businesses will not process any new reservations for that time period. The City of Port Alberni has opened a relief centre for those looking to escape the smoke and heat. About 80 fires are burning across the province, including six that are out of control.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Rainfall slows Vancouver Island wildfire's growth, brings new challenges
The Mount Underwood fire has triggered local state-of-emergency declarations in and around the city of Port Alberni, where evacuation orders and alerts remain in place. (Handout) Overnight rainfall has slowed the growth of an out-of-control wildfire that has consumed more than 34 square kilometres of forest on Vancouver Island. The Mount Underwood fire has triggered local state-of-emergency declarations in and around the city of Port Alberni, where evacuation orders and alerts remain in place. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the fire area, approximately 12 kilometres south of the city, received 6.6 millimetres of much-needed rain overnight, with between 10 and 30 centimetres more in the forecast Friday. 'This has lowered fire behaviour to mainly a smouldering ground fire,' the wildfire service said in an update Friday morning. The agency warned that although the precipitation has slowed the fire's burn, it also presents challenges for firefighters. 'Heavy rain could affect slope stability and cause issues with rockfalls and danger trees in the area,' the service said. Rain and fog conditions have also brought poor visibility to the region, potentially hampering an aerial response from firefighting helicopters and airplanes. More than 500 homes and businesses in the Bamfield area, southwest of the wildfire, have been without electricity since the fire was discovered on Monday. The power outage is expected to continue until the area has been deemed safe for BC Hydro crews to access. The main road linking Port Alberni and Bamfield remains closed due to the fire. Bamfield residents can still enter and leave the community via logging roads through Youbou, but the Cowichan Regional Emergency Operations Centre says the route is intended for essential travel only. Evacuation orders remain in place for properties on the east side of the Alberni Inlet, while evacuation alerts are in effect for some Tseshaht reserve lands and properties in the Cameron Heights area of Port Alberni. The wildfire service says its priorities in the fire zone continue to be the protection of structures and critical infrastructure north of the fire and the protection of timber to the east. Crews were successful overnight in bringing the fire's northwest flank onto accessible terrain through 'some small-scale ignitions' where they will begin containment along the new fire line, the service said. 'While rain and cooler conditions are expected, this will not completely suppress the fire,' the agency said. 'It is expected to reduce fire behaviour and assist in slowing growth, dependant on how much rain we receive.' The Mount Underwood fire is one of 83 wildfires burning in B.C., with six fires currently classified as out of control.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Some people say water bombers are scarce in the C.B.N. fire efforts. Here's how it's decided when they fly
If a fire is deemed five or six on the scale, it's too hot, said Craig Coady, director of N.L. wildfire response. Pilots must be able to see both the terrain and each other at all times, and if the smoke is too thick, flying is a no go. There are other conditions, too, said Coady at Friday's media briefing.
