Hamilton-area Today: Ties to Hells Angels + No tailgating on city property + Fun fashion from trash
G
ood morning! It's May 1, and here are the top stories today in the Hamilton area.
Cloudy with about five millimetres of rain into the afternoon. Add on the risk of a late afternoon thunderstorm, says
Environment Canada
. The expected daytime high is 12 C, with a very high UV index of 10. More rain and thunderstorms are expected overnight. There are no alerts.
Find the latest provincial road closures and traffic incidents via
Ontario 511
. Closures in Hamilton are available on the
Hamilton police incident feed
.
Taking transit today? Find the latest GO Transit service updates
here
. The latest information on local bus services are available here:
Hamilton
,
Burlington
and
Oakville
.
Sources say man killed in targeted Burlington shooting had ties to Hells Angels
Police probing deadly attack outside Mandarin restaurant; no arrests made and no suspects named.
No tailgate parties on city property as Hamilton tightens drinking rules
The city looks to counter Ontario's move toward more lax legislation around alcohol.
Hamilton cop charged with sexual assault insists he had 'consensual sex' with colleague
Const. Jeffrey Turnbull on trial for sexual assault of another constable.
Is city hall transparent? Hamilton's city manager says it will be
'I think we're making steps toward that and we're on the right trajectory,' Marnie Cluckie says.
Making fashion from trash
Students from Lawfield Elementary School strutted their finest 'trashion' at a belated Earth Day celebration on Tuesday.
Norma Bidwell's simple recipes for complicated times: Try these meatballs at home
Thinking of dinner? These meatballs and bean salad could land on your table tonight.
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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Smoky days ahead for Yukon territory
The next few days will see smoky conditions across the territory. Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and Alberta is forecast to start entering the territory on June 11, and linger until at least June 13, per wildfire smoke monitor . Environment Canada has released a special air quality statement for Watson Lake in particular, which said the smoke is likely to cause poor air quality and reduced visibility. The Town of Watson Lake is setting up a clean air space in the mezzanine room of the recreation centre. In Whitehorse, the air quality is supposed to deteriorate over the course of June 12, going from 'low risk' to 'moderate risk.' Wildfire smoke poses health risks, as breathing in the small particles can cause inflammation in the lungs, per Yukon government. Those exposed to the smoke may experience symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, eye irritation, mild cough, wheezy breathing, headaches, and phlegm production, per the Yukon government health and wellness page. More serious symptoms like shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pain and a severe cough may require medical attention. Those who are pregnant, elderly, children, or living with chronic conditions or a respiratory infection are at higher risk, as are those taking part in strenuous activities outdoors. Yukon Protective Services said in a post to Facebook that the best way for Yukoners to protect their health is to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke. The Yukon government recommends closing windows and doors and running an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter during smoky periods. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Uncontrolled wildfires keep Alberta on edge as thousands remain displaced
Even as firefighters get relief from extreme heat and harsh winds, Alberta's most dangerous wildfires are continuing to burn near communities under threat. More than 60 wildfires are burning across the province as of Wednesday. Of these, 23 have no established perimeter to slow their spread and at least seven of these out-of-control fires are considered a current threat to nearby communities. Around 3,000 Albertans are displaced, with eight communities under evacuation orders as of Wednesday morning. Thousands more remain on evacuation alert, under orders to be ready to leave their homes at a moment's notice. Wednesday night, an existing evacuation order in Saddle Hills County expanded because of a fire in the Blueberry Mountain Area. The order now includes all those located within Township Road 804 and Highway 49, between Range Road 100 and Range Road 95. Smoke has blanketed skies over much of the province, triggering a swath of air quality alerts and warnings. Alberta faced a volatile start to wildfire season, but the overall impact has been lighter that what is being experienced in other provinces. Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan have invoked states of emergency to help various levels of government deliver aid as they experience some of their worst fire seasons in recent years. Cooler temperatures, scattered rain and calmer winds helped firefighting efforts on Tuesday, while the forecast offers relief both to firefighters on the frontline and people struggling to cope with the high levels of smoke, said Environment Canada meteorologist Christy Climenhaga. A stagnant weather system has allowed a large plume of smoke to pool over much of the province, as well as parts of western Canada and the United States, she said. But a low-pressure system is expected bring a change in winds that will help much of the smoke dissipate by the weekend, Climenhaga said. "We're going to start see some slow relief," she said. "We're going to start to see those winds coming in from more of that southeast direction, strengthening just a little bit to help push that smoke out of the area." Conditions should begin clearing by Friday, with the weather pushing the smoke north and bringing some much-needed moisture to the province. By Saturday, considerable rainfall is expected in communities across the province, with up to 30 mm forecast in some regions, Climenhaga said. The change of weather is expected to both help and hinder the fight for crews battling one of most dangerous wildfires in Alberta — the Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, which spread in from B.C. The wildfire, now straddling the provincial boundary, covers a 21,679 hectares and continues to burn out of control. Sarah Hall, an information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service said Wednesday that crews were contending with an inversion, which developed overnight above the fire. The plume of of smoke limited visibility but also calmed the flames. That "smokescreen" is expected to clear Wednesday as the winds shift, allowing crews to get a better view of where the fire is spreading and flaring, she said. But as the smoke clears, activity on the fire will escalate, she added. "Its a bit of a double-edged sword in the sense that it does reduce fire behaviour, but then it can hamper operations due to poor visibility," Hall said of the inversion conditions. Crews worked through the night Tuesday to control the head of the fire in Alberta. Hall said crews in both provinces are also preparing for a major change in the wind direction, which may cause the fire to double back on itself, pushing the flames back toward the southwestern flank in B.C., she said. "There are times where wind shifts aren't forecasted and can occur in the field and that is a safety concern, but we are thankful that this is forecasted ahead of time and we can plan around it." Hall also urged people keep their distance from ongoing fire operations, and said crews have faced some "interference" from people still recreating inside the evacuation zone. Crews took advantage of Tuesday's moderate conditions to work on dozer guards that will help contain the flames while removing fuels from the path of the fire. As of late Tuesday, no residential homes or outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed within the County of Grande Prairie, where evacuation orders and alerts remain in effect. It's a different story on the B.C. side of the boundary. As of Monday afternoon, as many as seven buildings and mobile homes had been destroyed by the fire in the small community of Kelly Lake, B.C., which is home to about 70 people. Further north in the heart of Alberta's boreal forest, a cluster of 11 fires known as the Red Earth East Complex is closing in on several evacuated communities. One out-of-control fire, now covering 68,565 hectares, is burning 7.5 kilometres southeast of Red Earth Creek and 8.6 kilometres west of Trout Lake, according to the latest update from Alberta Wildfire. Another blaze within the complex, which has put the community of Peerless Lake under threat, has exhibited extreme fire behaviour in recent days. Now spanning more than 12,660 hectares, it is burning out of control just 10.5 kilometres east of the community. A fire that burned through Chipewyan Lake, destroying nearly half of the buildings within the community and temporarily trapping a firefighting crew, continues to rage. According to Alberta Wildfire, it's burning out of control across more than 133,650 hectares, surrounding the community located about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton. Residents of Chipewyan Lake, which is part of the Bigstone Cree Nation, have been under evacuation since May 28, the longest among all Alberta evacuees currently displaced. It's unclear when they will be able to return as many homes, along with critical infrastructure including the health centre and water treatment plant, were lost to the flames. The Sousa Creek Wildfire, burning five kilometres south of the community of Chateh, has more than quadrupled in size since May 30, reaching 41,242 hectares. Residents of the community, which is part of the Dene Tha' First Nation have been out of their homes since May 29. Crews continue to work along the north and northeastern fire perimeter, near Sousa Creek, in attempt to slow the spread. It is burning 72 kilometres west of the town of High Level and 27 kilometres east of the town of Rainbow Lake. WATCH: How to protect yourself this wildfire smoke season:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Smoke blankets Alberta as fight against western wildfires continues
Smoke from wildfires burning across Alberta has blanketed much of the province, including the Edmonton region. Edmontonians woke up to worsening air quality — the distinct smell of burning wood and morning skies cloaked in an orange haze. Environment Canada has issued special air quality statements for the city and surrounding regions, while air quality warnings remain in effect for a swath of communities across the northern portion of the province. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke could fluctuate from hour to hour and as smoke levels increase, so do the health risks, Environment Canada cautioned. As of Tuesday morning, the Air Quality Health Index for the Edmonton region was rated at 10+, meaning that residents are at a very high risk from the current levels of air pollution. Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment Canada, said Alberta hasn't recorded any smoke hours yet this year. Smoke hours are recorded when visibility is reduced below 10 kilometres due to smoke. She said this is typically when the general population will feel the effects of smoke inhalation. "But, there are certain sectors of the population that are more vulnerable to the effects of wildfire smoke. So I mean, some people will feel those effects earlier than others," she said. So far, Climenhaga said there have been four days in June with air quality at high risk. Environment Canada is urging people to limit their time outside and to monitor themselves for symptoms of prolonged exposure, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest pains or severe cough. WATCH | How to protect yourself from fine particles in wildfire smoke: Environment Canada meteorologist Steven Flisfeder said that from B.C. to Quebec, Canadians could likely see and smell wildfire smoke. "We're seeing smoke present almost everywhere," Flisfeder said. "When we look at satellite imagery, we can see the presence of smoke stemming from these wildfires making their way across the Atlantic toward the U.K. and parts of Europe." Flisfeder added that winds are expected to shift in the coming days. Anne Hicks, a professor of pediatric respiratory medicine at the University of Alberta, said exposure to wildfire smoke can have a broad range of health impacts. People will most often experience breathing difficulties but for people with chronic illness, the symptoms can be more extreme. Smoke has been known to trigger heart attacks and strokes, she notes. "If you can smell it or taste it, you're definitely breathing it in and bringing it into your body. Try and avoid exposures when you can," she said. "You do see long-term impacts the same as you would with any other kind of air pollution." She said more research is needed on the lingering health impacts of wildfire smoke, not only for people passively exposed to the pollution but firefighters who face prolonged and extreme exposure and acute symptoms that can linger for years. "These are people who are putting themselves in significant danger physically during their wildfire fighting." Smoke is drifting in from the northwest from fires burning in northern Alberta as well as northeastern B.C. Western Canada has faced a volatile start to wildfire season with explosive fire conditions and expanding evacuation orders straining emergency resources across the west. Between 10,000 and 15,000 remain under evacuation in Saskatchewan and another 21,000 have been forced from their homes in Manitoba, one of the largest evacuations in the province's history. Close to 3,000 Albertans remain on evacuation orders. Firefighters from Australia are bound for Alberta to help in the battle against more than 60 fires raging across the province. WATCH | Crews brave the flames to defend Manitoba homes under threat: As of noon Tuesday, 66 wildfires were raging across the province, 25 of which are burning out of control. Seven of the fires are considered an imminent threat to critical infrastructure or communities. Among them is a blaze along the Alberta-B.C. border, which has grown relentlessly for days, triggering a string of evacuation orders. The blaze, known as the Kiskatinaw River wildfire, continues to burn out of control since crossing the border into Alberta. The fire flared dangerously over the weekend, forcing an evacuation of Kelly Lake in northeast B.C., and destroying several structures within the remote community. Aggressive fire behaviour Sunday afternoon prompted the County of Grande Prairie to issue an expanded evacuation order and alert. The fire grew significantly overnight Sunday and continued to grow rapidly Monday. It now covers 21,679 hectares. Drier fuels and poor overnight humidity recovery are expected to fuel the fire, especially in exposed areas and spruce stands. The wildfire continues to progress toward containment lines along the north side, officials said. On Tuesday, as the heat and wind returned, a string of new evacuation orders in northern Alberta were issued, including in the Municipal District of Greenview. According to an alert issued at 11 a.m., a fire burning out of control about 81 kilometres southeast of the City of Grande Prairie, is spreading toward homes on Forestry Trunk Road near the Bison Flats recreation area. The evacuation order applies to everyone between the Smoky River and the Forestry Trunk Road, along all points accessed from the Forestry Trunk Road from Kilometre 70 to Kilometre 126. Residents were told to leave immediately and bring enough supplies to last three days. An evacuation order in Saddle Hills County was expanded Tuesday as an out-of-control wildfire burning in the Blueberry Mountain area crept closer to homes. A stretch of properties near Moonshine Lake Provincial Park have been ordered to evacuate. Officials say the fire was first detected on May 22 and is now burning seven kilometres northwest of Moonshine Lake. Alberta Wildfire and local fire crews continue to battle the fire from the ground and the air. A complex of fires, known as the Red Earth East Complex, continues to threaten a cluster of remote northern Alberta communities. Residents of Peerless Lake, Trout Lake, Red Earth Creek and Loon River First Nation remain under evacuation, while around 100 residents of nearby Chipewyan Lake are assessing their losses after nearly half of the structures in the community burned. A wall of flames moved in on the community two weeks ago, temporarily trapping a firefighting crew on scene overnight as homes along with the community's health centre, church and water treatment plant were incinerated by the flames. The Sousa Creek fire forced residents of Chateh to flee last week. It's unclear when it will be safe to return to the town about 850 kilometres north of Edmonton. The fire remains five kilometres south of of Chateh and 72 kilometres west of the Town of High Level. It has now consumed more than 41,200 hectares of forest. Crews battling the fire have faced high winds and parched conditions which have threatened to push the fire toward the community. Firefighters and heavy equipment crews have been working to contain the fire along the north and northeastern perimeter near Sousa Creek. Shifting winds and soft wet soil deep in the bush has hampered those efforts, officials said. A smattering of rain showers were expected to fall on northern Alberta Monday but after weeks of hot, dry weather, conditions remain parched. Officials caution that the fire danger remains extreme, meaning the risk of fast-growing, volatile fires across the Alberta landscape remains dangerously high.
