Wildfire in North Vancouver conservation area responding to suppression efforts: officials
CBC
A wildfire burning on a North Vancouver mountain, that's visible from downtown Vancouver, is now responding to suppression efforts according to regional district officials.
The Seymour River fire was first reported around 4:15 p.m. PT, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS), who said they got more than 700 calls about the blaze.
As of 9:45 p.m. PT, the fire burning in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve covered an area of 0.3 hectares. Multiple agencies, including the BCWS, District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue, and Metro Vancouver watershed protection crews, responded to the blaze.
"At this time, the fire is in a secluded gully and there are no structures nearby that are at risk," said Brant Arnold-Smith, the emergency operations centre director for Metro Vancouver, in a news conference Wednesday night.
Arnold-Smith said the exact cause of the blaze is unclear at this point.
"We are unsure if it is human caused or if it was caused by natural causes," he said. "We did have a significant lightning storm that rolled in Saturday morning that created a few fire starts in the region.
"As crews get more information and are able to conduct an investigation, we will be able to share that info."
Nick Donnelly, a fire information officer with the BCWS, says helicopters were dispatched to deal with the fire on Wednesday night, with Arnold-Smith estimating a dozen aircraft were dumping water on the fire.
Fire suppression efforts are expected to continue on Thursday, with officials saying the fire was concerning as it was burning close to the region's water supply, the Capilano Watershed.
Arnold-Smith said the fire was a good reminder for residents to respect campfire bans that are in place in the region and across B.C., and watch themselves while in the backcountry.
"It doesn't take much to spark a wildfire and the consequences can be severe," he said.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.