Latest news with #fireseason
CTV News
14 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Blaze forces Alaska Highway closure as B.C. wildfire season ramps up
Plumes of smoke from a wildfire designated "G90413" are shown from the air near Summit Lake in a Monday, June 2, 2025, handout photo. (B.C. Wildfire Service) Fire season is ramping up in British Columbia as the province's wildfire service warns of hot, dry and windy conditions in the forecast. The service's latest bulletin says the combination of factors is likely to intensify fire behaviour this week, especially in areas experiencing prolonged drought. It says that includes the northeastern corner of the province, where most of the active and out-of-control blazes in B.C. are currently located. The service has added a second blaze in northern B.C. to its list of so-called wildfires of note, saying the Summit Lake fire has forced the closure of a stretch of Highway 97, also known as the Alaska Highway, west of Fort Nelson. The wildfire service says human activity is the suspected cause of the 21-square-kilometre blaze that was discovered last Wednesday. It has prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert for properties along the highway between Steamboat and Summit Lake, meaning any residents must be prepared to leave on short notice. The blaze is one of 70 active wildfires across the province, with just over half classified as burning out of control. The service says drought conditions, dry weather and strong winds led to 'significant' growth of the Summit Lake fire overnight Sunday into Monday. It says the blaze has been displaying 'aggressive fire behaviour' as it grows southeast towards the highway, which is closed between Steamboat and Toad River. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Blaze forces Alaska Highway closure as B.C. wildfire season ramps up
Plumes of smoke from a wildfire designated "G90413" are shown from the air near Summit Lake in a Monday, June 2, 2025, handout photo. (B.C. Wildfire Service) Fire season is ramping up in British Columbia as the province's wildfire service warns of hot, dry and windy conditions in the forecast. The service's latest bulletin says the combination of factors is likely to intensify fire behaviour this week, especially in areas experiencing prolonged drought. It says that includes the northeastern corner of the province, where most of the active and out-of-control blazes in B.C. are currently located. The service has added a second blaze in northern B.C. to its list of so-called wildfires of note, saying the Summit Lake fire has forced the closure of a stretch of Highway 97, also known as the Alaska Highway, west of Fort Nelson. The wildfire service says human activity is the suspected cause of the 21-square-kilometre blaze that was discovered last Wednesday. It has prompted the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality to issue an evacuation alert for properties along the highway between Steamboat and Summit Lake, meaning any residents must be prepared to leave on short notice. The blaze is one of 70 active wildfires across the province, with just over half classified as burning out of control. The service says drought conditions, dry weather and strong winds led to 'significant' growth of the Summit Lake fire overnight Sunday into Monday. It says the blaze has been displaying 'aggressive fire behaviour' as it grows southeast towards the highway, which is closed between Steamboat and Toad River. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press
Fox News
2 days ago
- Climate
- Fox News
As US braces for ‘significant' wildfires, Trump's agriculture secretary addresses Forest Service departures
The Trump administration is prepared for what could be a "significant fire season," despite thousands of Forest Service employees departing under Trump's deferred resignation offer, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. "It did not compromise and will not compromise at all, 1%, what needs to be done to make sure that we are ready," Rollins told Fox News Digital Friday. More than 4,000 U.S. Forest Service employees voluntarily resigned under buyouts offered by the Trump administration, according to a POLITICO report. Wildland firefighters were largely exempt from the buyouts and a federal hiring freeze, but blue state leaders say President Donald Trump's slash-and-burn approach cuts key support staff. "The reality is that Trump has decimated the U.S. Forest Service," Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a May press conference. "Nearly every single Forest Service employee supports fire operations in some capacity." Many of the workers who departed held Red Cards, meaning they have special training to either fight fires or "provide essential frontline support to the firefighting crews," Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, said. But Rollins said the Biden administration wasted taxpayer funds on unsustainable and irresponsible hiring of people who "really had no job description." "That was in the — not hundreds — in the thousands of hirings that went on just in the Forest Service in the last administration," she said, adding that the service is becoming "more lean" but no less effective. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed a memo on May 20 signaling the Trump administration's wildfire response strategy. It calls for the elimination of barriers and "unnecessary procedures" to ensure a rapid response when wildfires threaten life and property. The memo also directs the Forest Service to examine the impact of "voluntary departures" on the firefighting workforce and propose a plan to "remedy critical vacancies." Non-fire staff should also be deployed to support frontline firefighters as wildfire activity increases, allowing for a "more robust and more intentional and more effective force as we move into this season," Rollins said. "But we are not going to waste taxpayer dollars the way that we've seen happen in the past," she said. Wildfires have already scorched more than one million acres across the country so far this year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The center's outlook shows higher temperatures and drier conditions than typical across much of the West this summer. "Our prayer is that it won't actually happen, that it will be lighter than usual, but indicators are showing that it actually may be a heavy fire season," Rollins said. She added she's confident Americans will see "an unprecedented level of coordination" among federal, state and local governments as the summer progresses. "There is zero compromising [on] having the most prepared, most effective [firefighters]," Rollins said. "And we'll do everything possible to ensure that they have every tool they need to be successful this season."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Hotter and drier' June may worsen wildfire outlook, Oregon Department of Forestry says
MOSIER, Ore. () — As the wildfire season continues to grow, Oregon state and federal officials provided an update Friday morning on what residents can expect heading into summer. Those talks come after the state saw a handful of brush fires this week, with some even sparking evacuations. In Mosier, following the Cherry Hill fire on Wednesday. Oregon Department of Forestry said crews will continue to monitor until there is no more heat or smoke. This comes as state and federal officials told lawmakers to brace for another hot and dry season. PNW falls back into drought, wildfire threat increases One crew member on the ground said the wildfire season is off to an early start. 'I want people just to be aware of the situation we're facing in the pre-season, and it's only going to get worse,' said ODF Wildland Fire Supervisor for The Dalles Phillip Raffely. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon received an update on the upcoming fire season. Fire officials said staff levels look strong but warn weather outlooks are potentially dangerous. 'We have hotter, drier summers, so this is not an issue that is going to go away,' Merkley said. At least three brushfires sparked this week in Oregon, sparking more than 2,000 acres combined. On Sunday, broke out in Wheeler County, north of Clarno. Central Oregon Fire said the 1,700-acre fire was about 20% contained on Wednesday. When the Cherry Hill fire broke out in Mosier on Wednesday, crews on the ground say it was caused by a burn that got out of control. 'I got on scene and it was already well underway, spreading into the wildland,' said ODF Forest Officer for the Dalles Kyle Albright. 'Plan ahead' for OR 217 SB lane closures this weekend Albright, one of the first people on the scene, said it was his fifth fire this year. 'The winds played a role in the evacuations due to fire history in the area,' Albright said. William Belser was previously under the evacuation order in Mosier. 'That's like the third or fourth one (fire). It's just now drying out so it doesn't take much for this stuff to take off,' Belser said. Due to the fast action of firefighters, the fire was contained and evacuations lifted just hours after it started. Days later, crews were still out Friday, mopping up hotspots. On Thursday, ODF was back out to help extinguish the Rowena Fire off of I-84, knocking down the blaze into a mop-up phase in less than 30 minutes. 'It's not unprecedented to have some pre-season fires, things like this. I'm just hoping that, moving forward, we don't have as many starts. You know, being May, kind of trying to forecast what June is going to look like, we just know it's going to be hotter and drier,' Raffely said. This weekend is expected to be particularly dry and windy. ODF said it may be best to avoid burning anything, especially as bans go into effect next week. If people do burn anything, ODF said they should make sure the fire is fully out before walking away. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
The fire weather pattern everyone is watching
It's still May, and wildfire season across the Prairies is already off to a dangerous and fast-moving start. Meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe explains how extreme heat, and gusty winds are creating a perfect storm for fire growth — with no rain in sight.
