Smoke
Possibility of ’ember showers’ from U.S. fire causes Grand Forks evacuation alert
GRAND FORKS – An evacuation alert has been issued for some residents of Grand Forks due to the possibilty of embers being blown across the border from the 19,000 hectare Stickpin wildfire in Washington State. The alert was issued today, Aug. 26 ahead of strong winds expected in the coming days, according to a post...
Daughters struggle for answers about dementia care after mom suffers horrific death
'SHE COULD HAVE GONE FROM ANY ONE OF HER ILLNESSES," DAUGHTER SAYS, 'BUT SHE BURNED ALIVE." KAMLOOPS — A series of government-funded senior care failures and one last cigarette killed Matilda ‘Tillie’ Olineck, her family says. Jeanne and Jackie Olineck — Tillie’s daughters — were cleaning up their mothers apartment at the Glenfair Complex downtown...
Hazy sky likely from northern fires
KAMLOOPS - It could just be a haze in the sky today but it is more likely smoke from more northern fires we are continuing to see fill our valley. B.C. Wildfire information officer Melissa Klassen says the smoke in the air could be attributed to the more than 15,000 hectares of fires north of...
Smoky skies advisory for Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fires to the north of us are causing smoky conditions and the Ministry of Environment is now warning people to take additional precautions because of the smoke. A smoky skies advisory was issued today for the Thompson, Shuswap, Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola, Boundary and Fraser Canyon areas. Similar advisories have also been issued for...
Air quality health advisory issued due to smoke
KAMLOOPS – The Ministry of Environment has issued an air quality advisory for Kamloops thanks to the smoke from forest fires burning in northern B.C. The air quality health index reading is currently a seven out of ten. The higher the number on the scale signifies a higher risk. A seven is considered a high health risk...
UPDATE: Smoky skies advisory ends
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than a week under a smoky sky advisory, the smoke has finally cleared. There have been more than 1,100 wildfires this year and more than 252,000 hectares have burned. Six of those fires have been more than 10,000 ha in size with the largest reaching more than 88,000 ha. Smoke from...
Fire on Fairview contained and under investigation
PENTICTON - Flames poured through the windows of an apartment building on Fairview Road Thursday in the early evening. The fire was on the fourth floor of the Kirkland apartment building at 803 Fairview Road, according to Global News. One person was taken to hospital by ambulance before fire crews arrived. Their current condition is not known....
Lumby fire chief requests residents display addresses following mobile home blaze
LUMBY - Lumby firefighters ran into a snag Saturday responding to a report of a house fire; none of the properties had address signs. Without house numbers on rural Albers Road, off Mabel Lake Road in Lumby, crews had a harder time finding their destination. Lumby fire chief Tony Clayton says it only cost them...
Shingle Creek fire in mop-up phase
PENTICTON - A fire burning 5 kilometres west of Skaha Lake near Shingle Creek is in the mop-up phase. The fire broke out Monday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. and is currently estimated to be 21 hectares in size. There are 20 firefighters on site today and 10 more on the way. Crews are working to...
Early morning house fire made worse by lack of smoke alarm
KELOWNA – A house fire on Badke Road early Thursday morning might have been snuffed earlier if the residents had a working smoke alarm. Platoon Captain Laurie Serres says 15 firefighters were called to a minor house fire at 2:51 a.m. after residents noticed the sounds and smell of fire coming from the attic. “There...