Wildfire updates: Comms still down in Tumbler Ridge, Fort St. John evacuees return home
The Latest
Residents of Fort St. John who were evacuated Thursday evening have been allowed to return to their homes.
Cell and internet service continues to be disrupted in Tumbler Ridge.
There are more than two dozen active wildfires across B.C., primarily in the province's northeast. For detailed information, visit the B.C. Wildfire dashboard.
Officials are warning against open burning and backcountry fires due to unseasonably warm, dry conditions and high winds.
For those with low battery or a poor connection, a low-bandwidth version of this site can be found at cbc.ca/lite.
Updates to this story are being posted in reverse-chronological order, below.
Internet and cell service still out in Tumbler Ridge
Andrew Kurjata | Last updated: Friday at 11:15 a.m. PT
Cellphone and internet services continue to be disrupted in Tumbler Ridge after a fibre line was damaged by wildfire on Thursday.
The District says most of its key services remain offline, including email services.
Emergency 911 service is working, but anyone in need of non-emergency help is advised to visit the RCMP office directly.
The visitor centre is offering its landline and WiFi, provided by satellite, for public use and has expanded its hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT until service is restored.
Visitors to the community are being warned that many services will be cash only.
While a cluster of wildfires has caused highway closures and delays north of the community, Tumbler Ridge remains accessible via Highway 29 from Chetwynd.
DriveBC is reporting that Highway 52 N, also known as the Heritage Highway, is single lane alternating traffic with a pilot vehicle through the wildfire zone.
That highway is being affected by wildfire G70192, which has grown to 1.85 square kilometres and is classified as out of control, which means it is spreading or anticipated to spread beyond its current control lines. The other fires in the cluster are being held.
Fort St. John evacuees can return home
Andrew Kurjata | Last updated: Friday at 9 a.m. PT
In an update posted to Facebook Friday morning, the City of Fort St. John says those evacuated from their homes on Thursday can now return home.
The Fish Creek Community Forest remains closed until further notice, but the fire has moved away from the community, toward the northeast.
The B.C. Wildfire Service last measured the fire at 56 hectares, or 0.56 kilometres squared and has classified the fire as out of control, which means it is spreading or anticipated to spread beyond its current control line.
Unseasonably warm weather prompts warning
Andrew Kurjata | Last updated: Friday at 9 a.m. PT
The B.C. Wildfire service is urging people to avoid open burning as the province heads into a day of unseasonably warm, dry and windy conditions lasting through Friday.
Though lightning is the leading cause of wildfires in B.C. overall, the service says that in the spring months, human activity is most likely to be responsible for new starts.
Many of the fires reported already this year have been grass fires or burn piles that have gotten out of control.
Merlin Blackwell, mayor of the community of Clearwater north of Kamloops, is urging people to put off backyard burning and other risky behaviour in the days ahead.
"We're saying please take a break from that until we get into the cold front," he said. "It's way too early."
Environment Canada is forecasting temperatures as high as 27 C in the Peace region and 28 C in the Fraser Valley on Friday but says a cooler, wetter weather system is expected this weekend in northern B.C.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
'Remote terrain of Kananaskis' presents unique challenges for G7 security operation
Social Sharing With the G7 leaders' summit coming to Kananaskis in less than two weeks, preparations are well underway for what has been described as "the largest domestic security operation" a country can take on. During a media briefing on Monday, reporters were told by the Integrated Safety and Security Group (ISSG) that the task force is currently in the process of bringing in personnel and setting up camps ahead of the summit, which takes place from June 15 to 17. WATCH | Strict security measures in place for G7: RCMP highlight security measures for upcoming G7 summit 20 hours ago Duration 11:35 While ongoing preparations have drawn inspiration from previous high-stakes security operations like the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2018 G7 leaders' summit in Charlevoix, Que., the unique challenges posed by the Kananaskis wilderness require special considerations. "The remote terrain of Kananaskis adds to the complexity of the operation," said Canadian Armed Forces Brig.-Gen. Liam Wade Rutland, commander of the joint task force. "Our immediate focus is on environmental familiarization, getting to know the terrain, our partners, and [understanding] the unique conditions of the area we're working in," he said. Encompassed within the Bow Valley's expansive forests, the Kananaskis controlled access zone in effect from June 10 to 18 presents risks such as weather, wildfires and encounters with wildlife. RCMP chief superintendent and ISSG event security director David Hall told reporters that "the potential that we may need to evacuate the summit site" has been taken into account, but that "maybe the summit itself [is] not of concern" when it comes to wildfires. "I would just say that all of our respective agencies are mindful of the wildfire threat nationally and how that may draw resources from the security partners to support evacuations like we're seeing in Manitoba or Saskatchewan right now, or parts of Alberta," he said. "All I'll say is our resourcing strategy for all of our agencies took that into account." Backcountry patrols, wildlife monitoring Wildlife, on the other hand, is being actively monitored to prevent interactions between humans and animals, with security personnel undergoing what Rutland called "numerous scenario-based exercises" involving wildlife encounters. Alberta Forestry and Parks superintendent Bryan Sundberg said personnel will be "conducting wildlife patrols and backcountry patrols" before and during the summit. Sundberg said the team will be looking to prevent wild animals, "especially the bears in the area," from getting too close to people. When the G8 leaders' summit was held in Kananaskis in 2002, a bear was tranquilized and inadvertently killed. "Our collective approach to wildlife mitigation is proactive and grounded in subject matter expertise," he said, adding that attractants such as food are being managed to avoid negative interactions with wild animals. Sundberg said officers will be deployed outdoors 24 hours a day, and that field personnel are being given wilderness safety training, including how to use bear spray, to protect both officers and wildlife. "Alongside our partners, Alberta Sheriffs are using real-time monitoring tools and on-the-ground patrols to track wildlife movement near the summit venues," said Sundberg. He said personnel from multiple agencies will be patrolling the backcountry to monitor not only wildlife but also human activity. "Our officers know the local trails, the terrain, the environment, and how people that use the area typically behave and interact in and along the trails and in the area," said Sundberg. "This key local knowledge helps keep the overall operation safe and efficient." "Officers will be out in the field, on the trails and at key locations and checkpoints where people might be hiking or working to provide guidance and advice to those recreationalists in the areas, and how we could avoid and lessen their impact," said Sundberg. Rutland emphasized that "environmental stewardship" has been top of mind for the ISSG throughout the planning process. "We recognize that Kananaskis is a national treasure and we're committed to mitigating and minimizing our impact, leaving the area in a pristine condition," he said. "This includes all our management plans and remediation of the area."
Global News
5 days ago
- Global News
Renewed search for missing kids in Nova Scotia uncovers no new evidence
The head of the search-and-rescue team looking for signs of two young children who went missing in rural Nova Scotia a month ago said searchers have not found any new evidence as of Sunday afternoon, which marked the second day in the renewed search in the dense woods near their rural home. The search for four-year-old Jack Sullivan and his six-year-old sister Lilly Sullivan, who were reported missing from their home in Lansdowne Station on May 2, resumed this weekend for two days of targeted searching. Amy Hansen, Colchester County ground search-and-rescue manager, said this weekend's search is focused on the Gairloch Road area — near where the children lived — and along a nearby 'pipeline trail,' where a small boot print was previously found. 'We're continuing to search up that pipeline, we're trying to cover more areas and hope that we find something,' she said in an interview Sunday. Story continues below advertisement Searchers hadn't uncovered anything new by mid-afternoon, Hansen said. An RCMP spokesperson said in an email Sunday police will provide an update if there is any significant search finding. Hansen said the team of searchers are working hard to move through the rough and densely wooded terrain packed with thick brush and downed trees from post-tropical storm Fiona, which hit the region in 2022. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Some counties in the province, it's quite easy to get in there and do grid searching. But unfortunately Pictou County is not one of them. It's very, very hard and it's very slow going. Teams have to be very close together to be able to cover the area properly,' she said. A crew of about 75 first resumed the search in rainy conditions on Saturday, alongside three drones and seven drone operators. Heavy winds and an incoming geomagnetic storm kept drones on the ground on Sunday, Hansen said. Story continues below advertisement The initial, widespread search-and-rescue effort was scaled back May 7, and the search this weekend marks the second time ground search teams have been asked to return to focus on specific areas. When the first search ended, RCMP said they did not expect to find the children alive in the surrounding woods. But they said searching would resume if they received fresh information. Hansen said there will be a discussion with the RCMP after Sunday's search efforts conclude to decide if a third search is needed. 'I'm sure they'll be calling us back in at some point. But right now, once we suspend this evening, it's a conversation that's going to have to be had down the road between the search-and-rescue and the RCMP and investigators,' she said. The search manager said the work of the search-and-rescue teams, many of whom are volunteers, has been gruelling. 'What the people that are here are putting themselves through, the stress levels and the exhaustion … being in the woods pushing through all this brush so close together so they can see everything for hours on end … the effort that's going in is unreal,' she said. Investigators have confirmed the RCMP's major crimes unit has been involved in the case since May 3, which is routine for missing persons cases. On May 13, the Mounties said they had received more than 180 tips from the public. The police force said officers had interviewed community members and family members.
Global News
7 days ago
- Global News
Flin Flon virtually deserted, thousands more evacuated as wildfires rage in Manitoba
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says thousands more evacuees are expected and the city of Flin Flon is virtually deserted as wildfires continue to rage in his province. Kinew told a Friday news conference the mayor, councillors , health-care staff, and all other officials have had to depart Flin Flon. 'The only folks remaining on the ground are firefighters and folks in the office of the fire commissioner and RCMP, who are there to battle the blaze,' Kinew said. 'We do expect some very, very challenging conditions in Flin Flon and in the surrounding community.' He added, 'Pray for rain.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Earlier Friday, Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine said fierce winds were threatening to breach city limits and begin burning structures in the city of 5,000, located northwest of Winnipeg. All residents, along with 1,000 more in the surrounding area, have had to leave. Story continues below advertisement They are among 17,000 people reported so far to be out of their homes due to a number of wildfires burning in remote regions from Manitoba's northwest to the southeast. Kinew said as the fires grow, thousands more evacuees can be expected and that communities like Winnipeg, Thompson and The Pas have already stepped up to help provide food and shelter. He says he spoke with some evacuees in Winnipeg. '(It's) very scary, very tiring, long days for people who've been on the road and in the air to find their way to safety,' he said.
