Here's how B.C. crews are using controlled burns to fight wildfires
With B.C.'s Keremeos Creek wildfire continuing to threaten homes and communities, wildfire crews are using controlled burns to contain the blaze.
The fire, discovered on July 29 southwest of Penticton, measured at just over 6,800 hectares Tuesday morning. In recent days, specialists have conducted planned ignitions to secure the perimeter of the fire.
Over the weekend, for example, crews were in the Olalla area, near ongoing evacuation orders. Mike Morrow, ignition specialist for the BC Wildfire Service, said the area has "very tough ground."
"In preparation for the ignitions, the crews began by digging handguard all the way along, stringing a hose fully charged with water," he said in a video posted online by the wildfire service.
"Once they had water they did a test burn to see what the actual burning conditions were."
Morrow said conditions were favourable so they continued down the line of the mountain right above Olalla to eliminate the natural fuel in those areas.
"Doing the ignitions in this steep, inaccessible ground, tying it off and cleaning up the area, it allows that area to be contained, mopped up and secured quicker, which allows residents back into their homes sooner," Morrow explained.
In its morning update Tuesday, BCWS confirmed more planned ignitions were conducted on Monday, with more to come.
"Helicopters and an ignition specialist will be on site again today. Hand ignitions will continue to bring the fire down to safe, workable ground for crews and are crucial for creating reliable containment. During operations, increased fire activity and smoke may be visible from Olalla, Keremeos and Penticton," BCWS said in its update.
"These ignitions are expected to be low-intensity and will serve to secure control lines. Helicopters will be standing by in all planned ignition areas to support operations, with structural crews monitoring any properties that may be adjacent to these operations."
More than 400 firefighters are assigned to the Keremeos Creek blaze. Hundreds of properties are under evacuation order and evacuation alert.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.