News

A wildfire burns on a mountain above the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 9, 2021. British Columbia is reporting a slight increase in the number of active wildfires but cooler temperatures and forecasts of rain ahead could bring some relief. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. wildfire count nears 250 but cooler temperatures, light rain bring some relief

The joint information centre says there have been 1,275 wildfires since April 1

The area between Pandosy Street and KLO Road remains cordoned off as RCMP investigate a suspected targeted shooting that sent two men to the hospital on Saturday, July 31. (Jef Hill/Contributed)

Explosive device found at site of Kelowna shooting that sent 2 men to hospital

Mounties continue to investigate alleged targeted shooting that happened on Saturday, July 31.

Helicopters fly past the Tremont Creek wildfire as it burns on the mountains above Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke issued for Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley

Metro Vancouver issued an air quality advisory warning of high concentrations of fine particulate matter

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, vice-president of logistics and operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Defence chief’s notes reveal debate over due process, optics on Fortin allegation

Through his lawyers, Fortin has denied any wrongdoing

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, vice-president of logistics and operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, participates in a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Seven wildfires burn in the northern area of Harrison Lake, all caused by lightning. (Screenshot/B.C. Wildfire Service)

UPDATE: Evacuation alert for Long Island residents near Harrison as multiple wildfires burn

More than 70 lightning strikes spark multiple wildfires across northern area of lake

Seven wildfires burn in the northern area of Harrison Lake, all caused by lightning. (Screenshot/B.C. Wildfire Service)
) Fire ripped through a vacant house in the 2600 block 208th St in Langley Sunday morning. (Shane MacKichan/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Early morning fire destroys Langley house

Crew called out Sunday

) Fire ripped through a vacant house in the 2600 block 208th St in Langley Sunday morning. (Shane MacKichan/Special to Langley Advance Times)
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens as Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, June 4, 2021. Federal officials are warning that Canada could be on the brink of a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly contagious Delta variant if the country opens too fast before enough people have been vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Federal modelling warns of 4th COVID wave driven by Delta if reopening is too fast
Visitors to the Calgary Stampede line up for tickets in Calgary on Sunday, July 18, 2021. Alberta Health says 71 people likely acquired COVID-19 while attending the Stampede. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Alberta to end isolation rules for COVID-19 cases, close contacts as cases rise
Mary Simon speaks during an announcement at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, has been named as Canada's next governor general — the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
VIDEO: Mary Simon becomes Canada’s 1st Indigenous governor general
Bill Merilees, a retired B.C. Parks regional information officer, collected mollusk shells from B.C. and Washington state coastlines for 50 years and has donated his 140,000-specimen collection to University of British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)
VIDEO: B.C. man donates 140,000 mollusk specimens to biodiversity museum
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Six wildfires started in the Harrison area on Saturday, July 31. Five are still burning as of about 8 p.m. (Screenshot/BCWS)

70 lightning strikes in Harrison Hot Springs as firefighters battle six Saturday wildfires

Lightning sparked a number of fires around the north part of the lake

Six wildfires started in the Harrison area on Saturday, July 31. Five are still burning as of about 8 p.m. (Screenshot/BCWS)
Maternity cases are again being diverted from Peace Arch Hospital to Langley Memorial Hospital, this time for ‘about 10 day’ according to a Fraser Health announcement. (Unsplash photo)

For the second time in a month, expectant mothers are being diverted from Peace Arch Hospital to Langley Memorial Hospital

Fraser Health announces diversion will last ‘about 10 days’

Maternity cases are again being diverted from Peace Arch Hospital to Langley Memorial Hospital, this time for ‘about 10 day’ according to a Fraser Health announcement. (Unsplash photo)
Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, holds a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal government reaches nearly $8B deal with First Nations on drinking water suit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised in 2015 to lift all drinking water advisories by this March

Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, holds a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
(The Canadian Press photo)

An ocean menace: Study finds ghost gear capturing species at risk and lobster

‘We can actually make more money if we clean up our act’

(The Canadian Press photo)
A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Heat warning in effect for B.C. as firefighters battle wildfires in province

There are 60 evacuation orders affecting 3,120 properties, an increase of 62

A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A tree candles as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns behind the IG Machine & Fibers roofing granule plant, where rock is crushed and coloured and then shipped elsewhere to create roofing shingles, in Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Billions in losses, thousands could die if wildfire response unchanged: report

‘If you look at record-breaking seasons, we’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars on fire suppression’

A tree candles as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns behind the IG Machine & Fibers roofing granule plant, where rock is crushed and coloured and then shipped elsewhere to create roofing shingles, in Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The sky glows orange as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns on a mountain in the distance above Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.

Severe wildfires could affect community watersheds, says forest service researcher

Water supply downstream is generally expected to be affected when about 20 per cent of a watershed is burned

The sky glows orange as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns on a mountain in the distance above Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.
Gary Wong participates in a drum song at Kelowna’s City Park on June 4, 2021. The event honoured the lives of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains had recently been discovered in an unmarked grave on the former grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Gary Wong, the Chinese drummer at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

In 2003, Wong began attending the men’s circle group at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

Gary Wong participates in a drum song at Kelowna’s City Park on June 4, 2021. The event honoured the lives of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains had recently been discovered in an unmarked grave on the former grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
The aftermath of the May 2016 fire that rendered the Ocean Ridge condominium building in White Rock’s Five Corners district uninhabitable. (File photo)

PHOTOS: Arrests announced in devastating 2016 White Rock arson

Two males were arrested July 6, police say

The aftermath of the May 2016 fire that rendered the Ocean Ridge condominium building in White Rock’s Five Corners district uninhabitable. (File photo)
After Aug. 30, anyone wanting a COVID-19 vaccine will have to travel outside the community. (The News files)

COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Maple Ridge set to close in August

Anyone in Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows wanting a dose will have to travel outside community

After Aug. 30, anyone wanting a COVID-19 vaccine will have to travel outside the community. (The News files)
A city council meeting on July 27 during which Yellow House Farm was issued a one year temporary use permit. (Special to The News)

New farm-to-table restaurant in Maple Ridge given temporary use permit

Councillors gave support despite mistreatment of city staff

A city council meeting on July 27 during which Yellow House Farm was issued a one year temporary use permit. (Special to The News)
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)

B.C. offers $1,200 to wildfire evacuees out more than 10 days

Red Cross program distributes aid for Lytton residents, others

Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide a regular update on the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, March 2, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. sees 243 COVID-19 cases Friday as infections keep rising

Interior, Fraser Health seeing faster spread of virus

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide a regular update on the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, March 2, 2020. (B.C. government)
Some of the 46 officers – excluding those who have or will do covert police work – were sworn-in to the Surrey Police Service on July 16. (SPS photo)

Surrey taxpayers already on hook for $1.6M in wages before 46 SPS cops were sworn in

That was to June 30, SPS spokesman Ian MacDonald confirmed Friday

Some of the 46 officers – excluding those who have or will do covert police work – were sworn-in to the Surrey Police Service on July 16. (SPS photo)