Tag Archives: 2023 Wildfires

Disaster

Six wildfires spark in Strathcona Region on Sunday

Editor’s note: Smoke from these fires later spread eastward to Campbell River, Quadra and Cortes Islands, affecting air quality.

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Saturday and Sunday, lightning struck throughout the Strathcona region causing six small wildfires to spark near Wolf River, Mount Con Ried, and Trio Creek.

“The majority of them are in upper elevation so there wasn’t a lot of fuel,” said Nick Donnelly, an information officer with the Coastal Fire Center, adding that these wildfires have no risk to the public or critical infrastructure. “They are still listed as out of control, but they are just in a monitor only stage because we’re not expecting them to grow further.”

Continue reading Six wildfires spark in Strathcona Region on Sunday →
Disaster, Indigenous Nations

First Nations’ emergency capacity stressed as wildfire season rages on

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

This year, before students even closed their books for the summer, forest fires sparked throughout the region. 

The Cameron Bluff fire, which is believed to have been human-caused, grew to 229 hectares, closing Highway 4 for most of June – the only highway in and out for many West Coast communities.

One month later, the 16.6-hectare Klanawa River fire was discovered in what Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor John Jack referred to as the shared territory between his First Nation and Ditidaht.

Continue reading First Nations’ emergency capacity stressed as wildfire season rages on →
Disaster, Health

Wildfire Smoke Is Making Us Sick

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s early June and there are 80 wildfires burning in the province, according to the BC Wildfire Service dashboard. 

There are evacuation orders in place for areas of the Peace River Regional District, and localities close to significant fires are blanketed in smoke.  

Fires are also bringing hazy skies to  Vancouver and other areas of the province farther away from active  fires. Across the continent, smoke is coating Toronto and New York right now. 

While smoky days and even weeks might be a  regular feature of future Canadian summers, they’re not something we  should be complacent with, according to health experts. 

Continue reading Wildfire Smoke Is Making Us Sick →
Disaster

Battling the blaze from the air

By Mark Brett, Penticton Herald, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Greg Adams is tasked with the aerial choreography of fighting wildfires with the ultimate goal of bringing his pilots home safe.
As an air attack officer for the BC Wildfire Service, he sits in the often bumpy front seat of the lead, bird dog aircraft to plot out the plan of attack on the unpredictable, fiery enemy below.

“Our primary role in the bird dog is make sure the tankers can safely deliver the retardant we’re asking them to deliver,” said Adams, 49, who formerly rappelled from helicopters as a frontline firefighter.

Continue reading Battling the blaze from the air →
Disaster

‘This is how we live now’: Families in the age of wildfires

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Sayward, B.C., resident Shannon Briggs scrolls through family photos on her computer. 

She pauses to contemplate a surreal image of her four-year-old son Stokely standing on a bluff, holding a half-eaten lollipop while a mountain ridge in the background behind him burns up.

“It’s crazy. Kids are so oblivious,” Briggs observes, shaking her head at the juxtaposition of her son’s apparent lack of concern and the gravity of the situation. 

“But talk about a case of ‘this is how we live now,’” Briggs says. 

The picture was taken on Day 4 of the Newcastle Creek wildfire. It was sparked May 29 less than six kilometres from the Village of Sayward on North Vancouver Island. 

Continue reading ‘This is how we live now’: Families in the age of wildfires →