B C Update – CP
Source: The Canadian Press – Broadcast wire
Aug 25, 2017
(BC-Wildfires)
A wildfire that may have been caused by humans has forced about 11-hundred people from their homes in the Joe Rich community just east of Kelowna.
The blaze broke out early yesterday afternoon along Highway 33 about 25 kilometres east of Kelowna and quickly grew to cover nearly four square kilometres of bush and timber.
The regional district says 474 homes are under evacuation order but there is no report that any structures have been lost.
The Wildfire Service expects to update the situation today but, in the meantime, Highway 33 remains closed through the Joe Rich area. (The Canadian Press)
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(BC-Wildfire-Witnesses)
A woman who was running in the trails just east of Kelowna says she was surrounded by a wildfire the flared up near the Joe Rich community early yesterday afternoon.
Cynthia Row says suddenly trees were turning into candles on the trail around her and she had no choice but to abandon the path and run downhill toward safety on Highway 33.
She says she has never been so frightened, despite years of experience in the bush.
Homeowner Jeremy Ford says he was the first to report the blaze after it started as a spot fire beside Highway 33 and by the time he had called it in, it was already racing up the hill. (The Canadian Press)
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(BC-Wildfires-Smoke)
For the first time in weeks, air quality advisories are not posted for the entire central and southeastern portions of the province.
Environment Canada says air quality has improved from the Nicola and Similkameen regions all the way east to the Alberta Boundary, but skies are still very smoky over the North and South Thompson, Prince George and all of the Cariboo region.
However, the B-C Ministry of Environment and various health authorities say smoke concentrations will vary widely in many parts of fire-weary B-C as fire activity and temperatures change.
Air quality advisories have been in effect over much of the province for more than a month as several massive wildfires continue to burn. (The Canadian Press)
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(BC-Surrey-Fire)
A pre-dawn fire in Surrey has left 11 people homeless.
The blaze broke out at about 3 this morning in a neighbourhood on Surrey’s northwest side (near 84A Avenue and 122nd Street.)
It tore through the upper floor of the two storey home, collapsing the roof, before firefighters were able to control it.
Fortunately all the members of the large family escaped unhurt. (Global)
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(BC-Suspicious-Fire)
Police in Abbotsford are investigating a suspicious fire at a campus of the Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts.
The fire broke out yesterday afternoon, burning the front steps and part of a portable classroom but despite dry conditions, firefighters were able to keep it from spreading.
Sergeant Judy Bird says portables usually don’t combust, so investigators are fairly certain human activity was involved.
No suspects have been identified and officers are appealing for video from nearby businesses. (News1130)
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(BC-Allowable-Cut)
The provincial government has reduced the allowable annual timber harvest from the Cranbrook area by nearly 11 per cent.
In all, foresters can remove 808-thousand cubic metres of timber from the southeastern B-C region — a drop from the 904-thousand cubic metres that has been permitted since 2008.
Increased protection for old-growth forests, as well as protection for the winter ranges of moose, elk and bighorn sheep, are given as two of the reasons for the reduction.
Chief forester Diane Nicholls says consultations with First Nations and a review of all available data assures her that the new cut level will sustain a competitive forest industry while guarding important habitat. (The Canadian Press)
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(B-C Update by The Canadian Press)
(The Canadian Press)
