Emotions running high as wildfires threaten B.C. towns
As the province enters the heart of wildfire season, British Columbia communities threatened by flames are under extreme stress and facing a range of emotions with the uncertainty of whether they’ll have to flee their homes, and whether they’ll have anything to come back to.
When a surprise fire broke out on the outskirts of Williams Lake, damaging an industrial building, municipal fire crews and provincial wildfire teams raced to the scene of what has been named the River Valley fire. It’s holding steady at 40 hectares, but still classified as out of control.
Mayor Surinderpal Rathor found it hard to describe what he felt watching the aircraft dropping round after round of rust-red fire retardant on buildings a stone’s throw from homes as Mounties undertook tactical evacuations late Sunday afternoon.
“It's hard to explain, my friend, what was going through mind,” he said in a virtual interview with CTV News. “Devastating is the only word I can think of when I see that – in 50 years of residence in the community, I've never seen any fire that aggressive.”
Hours south of his community, some 50 kilometres of the Trans Canada Highway was shut down due to the Shetland Creek blaze, with growing wildfire evacuations for communities in the Fraser Canyon.
“It’s been very stressful, this is our third major fire since 2017 and the third time the village has gone on alert,” said Ashcroft mayor, Barbara Roden. “We just have to cross our fingers and hope we stay out of danger.”
Her fire chief, Josh White, has been on high alert along with his team, and has been deeply impressed by the “magnificent job” the BC Wildfire Service has been doing keeping the flames away from their community.
For evacuees, the kindness of neighbours and strangers alike has offset the anxiety of running for their lives and not knowing when they can return.
“It's like an emotional roller coaster and you're up, you're down,” said Nandini Villeneuve, who was forced from her home on Friday. “As we left looking behind, it was just flames everywhere.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Pakistani citizen arrested in Canada, charged with plotting terrorist attack in New York
A Pakistani citizen who resided in Canada has been charged with plotting a terrorist attack at a Jewish centre in New York City.
Trudeau insists he's staying on as Liberal leader. But what if he changes his mind?
The Liberal caucus is set to meet in Nanaimo, B.C., next week for a retreat ahead of the fall parliamentary sitting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insists he will lead his party into the next election despite polls citing his unpopularity among Canadians. Here's a look at what would happen if he decided to call it quits.
Despite union protest, new hybrid work rules for federal employees kick in Monday
Public service unions will start the week with an early-morning rally opposing the policy. But despite the unions' 'summer of discontent' and an ongoing court challenge, the new rules will still kick in on Sept. 9.
Vancouver wastewater has the highest level of fentanyl byproduct in Canada, by far
New wastewater data shows that Vancouver had the highest levels of a fentanyl byproduct among cities tested in Canada, four to five times as much as any other location studied.
Two astronauts are left behind in space as Boeing's troubled capsule returns to Earth empty
Boeing's first astronaut mission ended Friday night with an empty capsule landing and two test pilots still in space, left behind until next year because NASA judged their return too risky.
Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in northern Vietnam. Authorities shutter airports and order evacuations
Typhoon Yagi made landfall Saturday afternoon in northern Vietnam where authorities shuttered airports and evacuated the most vulnerable.
opinion What do you need to do in order to retire early?
Financial Independence and Early Retirement (FIRE) is a growing movement for people looking to retire earlier than the traditional age. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew digs into the origins of the FIRE formula and outlines steps to implement it in your life.
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick dies after collapsing outside Winnipeg courthouse
The Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has died after collapsing outside of the Manitoba courthouse Friday afternoon, according to multiple sources.
Here's what jobs will survive in the AI boom: Statistics Canada estimates
A recent study by Statistics Canada sheds light on how different occupations may be affected by the AI boom, including those who might lose their jobs in a more automation-driven future.