News

The sky glows orange as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns on a mountain in the distance above Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.

Severe wildfires could affect community watersheds, says forest service researcher

Water supply downstream is generally expected to be affected when about 20 per cent of a watershed is burned

The sky glows orange as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns on a mountain in the distance above Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck.
The fire behaved aggressively overnight July 30, states BC Wildfire. Photo Facebook

Garrison Lake fire jumps in size and moves into Manning Park

Blaze now measured at 6,400 hectares

The fire behaved aggressively overnight July 30, states BC Wildfire. Photo Facebook
A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Heat warning in effect for B.C. as firefighters battle wildfires in province

There are 60 evacuation orders affecting 3,120 properties, an increase of 62

A helicopter carrying a bucket flies past a property at Barnes Lake while battling the Tremont Creek wildfire near Ashcroft, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Video
Sahtlam Tree Farm owner Robert Russell is photographed in front of his cabin, which he built in the early 70’s, on his 40 acre property in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The recent heat dome and drought have taken a toll on his business of growing trees for the busy Christmas season. Robert farms over 40,000 fir trees including the douglas, grand and noble fir trees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C. Christmas tree growers say intense heat singes prized trees, kills seedlings
Pixabay
Dog tips with Dogzies: Freedom on the leash
People can be seen trying to pick up glass from wine bottles that are across both lanes of traffic on Highway 97 in Oliver Wednesday afternoon. (Anica Grenzberg Facebook)
Black Press Media Weekly Roundup: Top headlines this week
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens as Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, June 4, 2021. Federal officials are warning that Canada could be on the brink of a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly contagious Delta variant if the country opens too fast before enough people have been vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Federal modelling warns of 4th COVID wave driven by Delta if reopening is too fast
More Videos 
A tree candles as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns behind the IG Machine & Fibers roofing granule plant, where rock is crushed and coloured and then shipped elsewhere to create roofing shingles, in Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Billions in losses, thousands could die if wildfire response unchanged: report

‘If you look at record-breaking seasons, we’ve spent hundreds of millions of dollars on fire suppression’

A tree candles as the Tremont Creek wildfire burns behind the IG Machine & Fibers roofing granule plant, where rock is crushed and coloured and then shipped elsewhere to create roofing shingles, in Ashcroft, B.C., on Friday, July 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Oliver Fire Department. (Submitted photo)

Bird takes out power and starts fire in South Okanagan

The Oliver Fire Department extinguished the early morning blaze

Oliver Fire Department. (Submitted photo)
Gary Wong participates in a drum song at Kelowna’s City Park on June 4, 2021. The event honoured the lives of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains had recently been discovered in an unmarked grave on the former grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Gary Wong, the Chinese drummer at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

In 2003, Wong began attending the men’s circle group at the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society

Gary Wong participates in a drum song at Kelowna’s City Park on June 4, 2021. The event honoured the lives of the 215 Indigenous children whose remains had recently been discovered in an unmarked grave on the former grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
The Kelowna Yacht Club clinic is open from 3p.m.-7p.m. July 30-August 4th (Kelowna Yacht Club/Facebook)

VIDEO: Kelowna Yacht Club hosts vaccination clinic

The target age group is between 20 to 40 years old, according to Interior Health

The Kelowna Yacht Club clinic is open from 3p.m.-7p.m. July 30-August 4th (Kelowna Yacht Club/Facebook)
Multiple wildfires are currently raging in the South Okanagan, with the Thomas Creek and Nk’Mip Creek both growing over 10,000 hectares. (Mike Biden Photography)

Thomas Creek Wildfire now over 10,000 hectares

The fire grew by close to 2,000 hectares since Friday

Multiple wildfires are currently raging in the South Okanagan, with the Thomas Creek and Nk’Mip Creek both growing over 10,000 hectares. (Mike Biden Photography)
The fire is believed to be human caused. Image BC Wildfire

New Manning Park fire believed to be human caused

As of Friday evening the blaze was measured at 20 hectares

The fire is believed to be human caused. Image BC Wildfire
This map that includes Shuswap Lake and Salmon Arm shows lands of the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands outlined in red, with no dividing lines. The Switzmalph area is on the south and southwest end of Shuswap Lake within the red lines. (City of Salmon Arm image)

Salmon Arm/Switzmalph members of Neskonlith Band make plans to separate

Group points to lack of confidence in chief and council, unjust colonial governing structure

This map that includes Shuswap Lake and Salmon Arm shows lands of the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands outlined in red, with no dividing lines. The Switzmalph area is on the south and southwest end of Shuswap Lake within the red lines. (City of Salmon Arm image)
The Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum opened on July 30, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre opens in Salmon Arm

The centre opened at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum on July 30

The Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum opened on July 30, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)
MP Richard Cannings, representing South Okanagan - West Kootenay, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh were in Penticton to cap off Singh’s most recent tour. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh visits Penticton to talk climate

Singh spoke in front of the same spot where climate rally was held the day before

MP Richard Cannings, representing South Okanagan - West Kootenay, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh were in Penticton to cap off Singh’s most recent tour. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

Kelowna restaurant workers urged to get COVID vaccine amid outbreak

The majority of new COVID-19 cases are among unimmunized young adults

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
(Interior Health/Contributed)

Interior Health issues drug alert after cocaine found contaminated with fentanyl

The alert is in effect until Aug. 6

(Interior Health/Contributed)
(File photo)

Busted minutes after allegedly stealing truck in Kelowna

Two men were arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a home in Rutland

(File photo)
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)

B.C. offers $1,200 to wildfire evacuees out more than 10 days

Red Cross program distributes aid for Lytton residents, others

Wildfire in Lytton, B.C., seen on June 30, 2021. (@guyatsfu/Twitter)
Smoke rises from the north end of the Thomas Creek Wildfire on July 28 just across Skaha Lake from Kaleden. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Volatile Thomas Creek wildfire forces heavy equipment to withdraw

BC Wildfire is preparing for thunderstorms Friday and Saturday

Smoke rises from the north end of the Thomas Creek Wildfire on July 28 just across Skaha Lake from Kaleden. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey and Kelowna city councillor Maxine DeHart in 2018. (Contributed)

RCMP Southeast District media relations officer headed east

Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey has accepted a transfer to Newfoundland and Labrador

Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey and Kelowna city councillor Maxine DeHart in 2018. (Contributed)
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide a regular update on the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, March 2, 2020. (B.C. government)

B.C. sees 243 COVID-19 cases Friday as infections keep rising

Interior, Fraser Health seeing faster spread of virus

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide a regular update on the COVID-19 situation, B.C. legislature, March 2, 2020. (B.C. government)
Proceeds from the sale of hot and iced coffees at Tim Hortons Camp Day in the Okanagan July 21 helped raise more than $12 million nationally, topping last year’s total of $11 million. (Black Press - file photo)

Vernon Tim Hortons raise $18K on Camp Day

More than $12 million raised across the country on Tim Hortons Camp Day July 21

  • Jul 30, 2021
Proceeds from the sale of hot and iced coffees at Tim Hortons Camp Day in the Okanagan July 21 helped raise more than $12 million nationally, topping last year’s total of $11 million. (Black Press - file photo)