B.C. wildfires: Up to $2,000 for Lytton evacuees; showers in the forecast, but also lightning
Wildfire crews in British Columbia's southern Interior braced Friday for possible lightning this weekend, after several days of light winds and few thunderstorms helped trim the number of active fires in the province by about 20 per cent.
The BC Wildfire Service says 242 wildfires were burning, down from about 300 last week.
But heat warnings or special weather statements covered much of the province packing temperatures from the low 30s in the northeast to 40 C in the Fraser Canyon and Boundary regions.
Rob Schweitzer, director of fire centre operations with the wildfire service, warned that the heat, along with limited cooling at night, could contribute to severe burning conditions before easing.
Environment Canada predicted possible showers for Metro Vancouver as early as Friday night with the chance of precipitation spreading through the southern Interior over the long weekend.
But lightning was also in the forecast for regions already ranked at high to extreme risk of wildfires.
Emergency Management BC said 60 evacuation orders covering just over 3,000 properties remained in effect, while residents of nearly 19,000 other properties were told to be ready to leave on short notice.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order Friday morning for 125 properties northwest of Clinton in response to the Flat Lake wildfire, which was classified as out of control and burning across nearly 396 square kilometres.
Evacuation orders were downgraded to alerts late Thursday for several properties near a 654-square kilometre wildfire northwest of Kamloops. But the wildfire service said that blaze and most of the nearly three dozen listed as fires of note remained out of control and continued to challenge firefighters on at least one flank.
The B.C. government also said Friday it's working with the Red Cross to provide one-time payments of $2,000 to households that fled the wildfire that destroyed much of the village of Lytton a month ago. All other households under a mandatory evacuation order for longer than 10 consecutive days during this wildfire season will also be eligible to receive a one-time payment of $1,200.
Applications for the funds will be accepted until 30 days after the order is lifted.
Nearly 490 people from the Lytton First Nation and almost 800 people from the village of Lytton have registered for B.C.'s emergency support services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 30, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.