As crews grapple with a busy wildfire season, someone deliberately set a grass fire in Kelowna: RCMP
Weeks into what has already proven to be a demanding wildfire season in B.C., someone deliberately started a fire in the tinder-dry Okanagan.
A grass fire was reported Tuesday evening in Kelowna's Glenmore Highlands neighbourhood, the local RCMP detachment said.
Firefighters were able to put out the blaze on a slope off Long Ridge Drive, but Mounties were called to investigate its origin.
The RCMP said in a statement Wednesday that it appeared the fire was human-caused, and that a team is "actively investigating."
The detachment did not say what evidence led its officers to believe it was deliberately set, but called it "suspicious" in nature.
The RCMP is asking any witnesses to come forward to report suspicious activity in the area.
No one was injured, but at a time when conditions are dry and high winds are in the forecast, fires of any size can be dangerous in the area.
The entire province falls under sweeping fire bans, which include the prohibition of camp fires.
As of Wednesday morning, the BC Wildfire Service reported there were 295 wildfires burning in B.C., 15 of which were sparked in the last two days.
Nearly one-third of the fires that are currently active are considered out of control, and the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes Kelowna, is dealing with the most active fires (113) of the five centres.
The majority of these are believed to have been sparked by lighting in the area.
So far this season, B.C. has seen 1,163 known wildfires.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.