Latest news with #firecontrol
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Cautious optimism after rain helps quell Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni, B.C.
Officials on Vancouver Island say 33 millimetres of rain on Friday helped to curb the flames of the Mount Underwood wildfire, which is burning about 8 kilometres south of Port Alberni, B.C. The fire is now estimated at around 36 square kilometres, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service, and is still classified as out of control. But officials say the rain reduced it to a mostly smoldering fire. "The rain did a lot, it minimized fire behaviour. Temporarily, it will minimize fire spread," said incident commander Stefan Hood with the wildfire service. "But that certainly doesn't mean that the work is done. Really and truly, the work is only just beginning." The wildfire service says the reprieve from the hot, dry, windy weather from the past few days will give crews better access to the wildfire and allow them to focus on its perimeter to keep it from spreading any closer to the City of Port Alberni, where residents have been on edge the past few days monitoring the flames. Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions and officials with the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District say all evacuation orders and alerts are still in place, including the order for the China Creek campground and the alert for parts of the Cameron Heights neighbourhood on the southern edge of the city. "We have reason for hope, but people should still be prepared because we don't know everything that could occur," said John Jack, the district's chair and the elected chief councillor for the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. Bamfield still without power Jack confirmed that Bamfield, a remote community on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is still without power. He says regional officials are working to set up hot shower and laundry facilities for those who need it. Wildfire growth near Port Alberni unusual for Vancouver Island: wildfire service 2 days ago An out-of-control fire south of Port Alberni has grown to more than 34 square kilometres. The Mount Underwood wildfire was discovered on Monday and doubled in size in 24 hours. The B.C. Wildfire Service describes the blaze as aggressive and explosive and says the rapid growth is due to a severe drought. The power went out in Bamfield on Monday, the night the fire started. The main road between Port Alberni and Bamfield is closed due to the fire, but a secondary route to Youbou in the Cowichan Valley is available for essential travel only. Some businesses in Bamfield have expressed concern that the situation will diminish their income during the busy tourist season, which sustains many business owners for the rest of the year. During the media briefing on Saturday, Mayor Minions addressed business owners in Port Alberni who had expressed similar concerns. "We are aware of your struggles, we are advocating to the provincial government for resources into the community," she said. Air quality improves Wildfire officials said air quality was a great concern in the past few days but as of Saturday, air quality throughout the mid-island region had greatly improved. "Driving into Port Alberni this morning I was on the phone with my mother and I painted a picture for her that I saw a beautiful rainbow over the inlet and the mountains and the clouds, and the sun poking through," said Hood. Two clean air centres are still open to the public in Port Alberni as a precaution. "Right here in Port Alberni it's quite a lovely day," he said.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Quebec wildfires small and under control, SOPFEU says
There are currently 12 active wildfires in Quebec, but according to the province's forest fire-fighting agency, they are all considered relatively small and under control. Malanie Morin, a fire information officer with the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU), said the fires are in line with what is expected in August in the province. 'There are a variety of causes for the wildfires we are experiencing. Several are human caused. Also, a few that are lightening. We have had different cell systems come through the last few days and we have seen the effects of those combined with the high fire danger rating,' Morin said. The wildfires range between 0.4 and 11 hectares. 'It's really been a day-by-day situation because as mentioned we have had a lot of storms systems come through and every time the amount of rain that we get is uncertain. Again, we are supposed to get rain in the next 24 to 48 hours which may bring down fire danger for a day or two.' However, she said that if a dry and hot system sets in again, the fire danger rating will once again climb. 'Right now, we are hoping that we get the precipitation that we are supposed to get over the next day or two.' The information officer added that although SOPFEU had sent firefighters out west to help with the situation there, the province had the necessary number of crews, including fire bombers, to respond to the wildfires in Quebec. 'We do have the water bombers that are in strategic different areas to be able to intervene, and we have seen them intervene over the last few days. We had two water bombers on a fire in southern Quebec on Saturday. We had water bombers again yesterday on a fire in the Tremblant area,' said Morin.
CBC
07-08-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Crews getting wildfire in Miramichi area under control as dry conditions persist
Social Sharing A wildfire reported Wednesday near Miramichi was close to being under control Thursday afternoon, according to New Brunswick Wildfire Management. Tony Cole said no structures were at risk from on Oldfield Road, about 16 kilometres north of Miramichi, a spokesperson for the wildfire branch. At its largest, the fire spanned about 35 hectares, but had been reduced to about 22 hectares when Cole spoke to CBC News. "We're making good progress on the fire," he said. "We're almost the whole way around it with the hose line." WATCH | Wind, humidity key factors in wildfire risk: How does N.B. establish wildfire risk? 43 minutes ago There is currently no threat to private property, residents or businesses in the area. The Miramichi Fire Department said crews responded to the fire at about 3 p.m. Wednesday and continued to fight the flames into Thursday morning. "The fire did burn through a hydro line but there was no damage to infrastructure," the department said in an emailed statement. Cole said that until a hose line could reach all the way around the fire, it would be considered out of control by the Department of Natural Resources. Because firefighters already had hoses surrounding the fire, Cole expected it to be under control within hours. "Activity is definitely reduced, and we are getting a good handle on it." Wildfire numbers high Although wildfires of this size are expected, given the dry and hot conditions, Cole said it is uncommon for the Maritime provinces to experience high numbers of wildfires. "Typically, we get lots of moisture off the ocean and high humidity because we are a coastal Maritime province. This drying trend seems to be a little bit out of the norm for us." New Brunswick is under a provincewide burn ban to prevent fires from starting and spreading. Cole advised people to be cautious and vigilant during outdoor activities while the extremely hot and dry conditions continue. With a hot and windy weekend approaching, he said a fire can spread in seconds. "With a little bit of wind, [a fire] can happen very quickly in these dry conditions," he said.
CBC
18-07-2025
- Climate
- CBC
B.C. Wildfire Service says Osoyoos fire under control
The BC Wildfire Service says a fire that started yesterday near the north end of Osoyoos Lake is now under control. It started at a home and then spread to dry grass and brush.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Millions still spent on abandoned fire control site
Almost £30m of taxpayers' money has been spent on maintaining an empty fire control centre, which was never used. The idea to operate fire services across five East Midlands counties from the site in Castle Donington was suggested in 2004 as part of a nationwide reorganisation dubbed FiReControl which was later scrapped. But not before the government had signed a 25-year contract in 2007 for the £14m building, which must run until 2033. Costs, including rent, rates, utilities and security for the site, currently account for about £2.5m a year, so a further £20m or more could need to be spent by the contract's end. Releasing ongoing financial details of the contract, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) confirmed to the BBC that there are "no circumstances" that could end the contract earlier than was agreed in 2007. The 2024/25 financial year saw £2,580,154.62 spent on the building in Warke Flatt. The MHCLG said while it was tied to the contract, it was looking to find an alternative use or an occupier for the site to offset the ongoing costs. A spokesperson said: "We are working to find new tenants for these buildings so that we can deliver value for money for taxpayers." The three-story site in Willowbrook Farm Business Park was planned to open in 2009 to handle emergency calls for Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. It would have been one of nine new centres replacing the existing 46 control rooms across the country. The Fire Brigades Union opposed the plans as costly and potentially leading to a reduction in service. And by 2010 the project had been scrapped. In 2011, a committee of MPs said the entire scheme was a "complete failure" and had cost almost half a billion pounds. Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Fire centres costing £7.6m a year Fire control centre handed over Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
