Firefighting resources stretched thin to start wildfire season
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CTV News
13 minutes ago
- CTV News
City of Ottawa ending free dumping of wastewater from RV drivers
The City of Ottawa says this year will be the last year RV users can freely drop off wastewater for disposal at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre. The RV waste disposal program operates from May to November, allowing people to bring their liquid waste to the water treatment plant and dispose of it at no charge. The City of Ottawa says the program oversees approximately 500 RV waste disposals per year. But now, following a review of operations at the Robert O. Pickard Environmental Centre, city staff say the RV waste disposal program will be discontinued at the end of the 2025 season on Nov. 30. Staff say security issues, labour costs, and construction are all factors in the decision to stop accepting waste from RV drivers. 'The audit identified that the program poses safety risks to both the public and staff, as well as to the City's critical infrastructure. In addition, ongoing construction and site upgrades are impacting access to disposal areas and contributing to already high vehicle traffic volumes,' a memo from General Manager of Infrastructure and Water Services Tammy Rose said. Rose says the city incurs an annual cost of approximately $2,000 to dispose of RV waste and $43,500 to oversee the program. 'Though it is difficult to precisely quantify the cost savings or the value of improved efficiency at the site, it is estimated that over $450,000 in savings on combined FTE and disposal costs will be realized over the next 10 years by canceling the program.' The city says RV owners have access to alternative local dumping sites where they can manage their wastewater independently.
CTV News
13 minutes ago
- CTV News
Port Alberni, B.C., declares state of emergency due to fast-moving wildfire
The Mount Underwood wildfire is burning out of control near Port Alberni, forcing hundreds of people to flee. The City of Port Alberni has declared a state of local emergency in response to a fast-moving wildfire that has burned more than 20 square kilometres of forest and triggered evacuations south of the Vancouver Island community. The Mount Underwood wildfire continues to burn out of control Wednesday, and has closed the main access road between Port Alberni and Bamfield, where the fire has knocked out power to hundreds of residents and businesses, according to BC Hydro. 'Bamfield has no power and limited services,' the B.C. Wildfire Service said in a fire response bulletin Wednesday morning. 'We are asking people to stay away from Bamfield unless you are a resident; we don't want any additional pressures to the community by having extra people trying to get there, either by road or by trails.' Read more: Complete coverage of B.C.'s 2025 wildfire season An evacuation order has been issued by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District for the China Creek Campground and Marina, which hosts approximately 250 campsites about 15 kilometres southwest of Port Alberni. On Tuesday, the regional district issued an evacuation order for about 300 rural properties in Electoral Area A and Electoral Area F. The neighbouring Cowichan Valley Regional District has also issued an evacuation order for homes in Electoral Area F, between Port Alberni and Nitinat. The Cameron Heights area of Port Alberni has been placed under an evacuation alert, with the city urging residents to be prepared to leave their homes on short notice. The Mount Underwood fire was first discovered Monday and spread rapidly, becoming the largest wildfire on Vancouver Island. Wildfire officials say night vision-equipped helicopters and an air tanker attacked the blaze Tuesday night as the fire reached within 12 kilometres of Port Alberni. The wildfire service says the fire is displaying rank-4 and rank-5 fire behaviour, meaning it is burning at a highly vigorous to extremely vigorous rate. Wildfire smoke advisory The fire has prompted Environment Canada to issue a special air quality statement for the inland Vancouver Island region as smoke is expected to remain over the region for the next 24 to 48 hours. 'Areas along the west coast of Vancouver Island (Tofino to Sooke) may also experience periods of smoke, but to a lesser degree,' the weather office said in an advisory Wednesday. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Limit time outdoors. Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events,' the agency added. 'People more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution, including people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, and people who work outdoors, should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.' The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Approximately 90 wildfires are currently burning across B.C., seven of which are classified as out-of-control.
CBC
26 minutes ago
- CBC
‘Like a bad, apocalyptic horror film': N.L. evacuee describes wildfire
Another hot and windy day is expected to fan the burning wildfires across Newfoundland and Labrador. In the face of that and finite resources to fight the fires, N.L. Premier John Hogan said he's temporarily banning off-road vehicles in forested areas. Meanwhile, thousands of people like Gerry Rogers and Rod Coward are either under evacuation orders or an alert
