Drought

A line of firefighters in red uniforms face an instructor with a fire truck in the background.

Brigade recruitment ramping up before wildfire season

May 29, 2024 by Loni Taylor

The local fire department is preparing for the upcoming wildfire season by bolstering their wildfire brigade by training more firefighters.

“It’s a fairly small all time commitment compared to the regular department,” Fire Chief Eli McKenty said. “And it means in the case of a wildfire, we would have a reserve force of extra wildland firefighters, which could make a real difference.”

Currently, the fire department consists of 45 members, including the wildfire brigade. Training for the brigade begins on June 8 and will include first aid training. To find out more visit cortesfire.org or email McKenty at chief@cortesfire.org.

Listen to the CKTZ News Update.

A pumper truck is parked in front of a sign that reads ‘Welcome To Colorful Colorado’.

New fire fighting infrastructure ready in time for first fire ban of the season

May 27, 2024 by Loni Taylor

Category 2 and 3 fire bans took effect on Cortes Island May 17.

Category 1 fires are still permitted for the time being, which means campfires that are 1.5 meters in diameter or smaller are allowed, but they must be surrounded by a 10 foot radius with no flammables, a water source must be accessible nearby, and the fire must be fully extinguished with water before the area is left unattended.

The local fire department received over $50,000 in improved infrastructure and equipment, including a new pumper truck, set to arrive at the end of the month.

According to the Cortes Fire Chief, the island faced 120 days of no rain. Additional infrastructure that is now in service includes a water tank in Mansons Landing.

To find out how to minimize fire risk around your home go to cortesfire.org.

Listen to the CKTZ News Update.

Helicopter above a line of trees and a lake. There is a plume of smoke rising from the mountains.

Northwest BC prepares for another tough wildfire season

April 25, 2024 by Dan Mesec

Only 60 per cent of the average snow pack remains the Northwest region of B.C., and that has the BC WildFire Services Northwest Fire Centre (BCWS) preparing for forest fires earlier than usual.

Ground crews are already amassing throughput the Northwest region, especially near the border with the Nechako region, which has seen even dryer conditions this spring.

Northwest Fire Centres Information Officer Morgan Blois, said many crews are already training. “We’ve hired more members this season and acquired more equipment to help ground crews be more effective, given the increased fire risk so early in the season.”

According to the BCWS, there are more than 150 fire crews stationed in the Northwest region with more to come as the season progresses.

A single plume of white smoke taken from above in the middle of a mountainous region.

An ounce of prevention vs. a pound of cure — addressing natural disaster readiness in BC

March 22, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Costs of emergency management and readiness are increasing year over year amidst drought conditions and preparation for another busy wildfire season. Overall though, are preventative measures against natural disasters like wildfires cost-effective when compared with rebuilding, post-disaster?

MLA for Prince George – Mackenzie district Mike Morris says yes. Although the cost of services like BC Wildfire Service are high, greater investments need to be made both in emergency response, and in regards to larger scale forest restoration. He admits, “this is something (BC) should have looked at a long time ago.”

Morris asserts that forestry practices have exacerbated the ecological situation that leads to both flooding and wildfire. This includes densely populated conifer plantations, which are vulnerable to lightning strikes. Ultimately, he encourages government, individual communities, and the private sector to all work together to address a gradual multi-decade solution to restore ecological health and disaster mitigation.

Smoke billows from a wildfire in the distance. The sky is dark & grey behind it, with some clear sky on a dusky horizon. Below a highway stretches out from the bottom centre of the frame into the distance

BC Wildfire Service prepares for busy season despite no active “zombie” fires in the area

March 21, 2024 by Ian Gregg

After last year’s intense fire season, people are fearful about what this season will bring, especially since there are some fires which have been burning underground all winter.

Holdover fires, also knows as “zombie fires” arise when a fire from the prior fall continues to burn over the winter, and re-emerges the following spring.

While a number of these fires are already making smoke in the, roughly 336000 square kilometre Prince George Fire District, Val Lucas of the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) reports that none of them are currently within a 100km radius of the Prince George municipality. Although we can breathe easy for now, a Category 2 & 3 Fire Ban comes into effect March 28th, signifying the severity of the current drought conditions.

CFUR News explores the factors which could affect this year’s fire season.

The site C Dam Construction site as seen from a viewing platform on the north side of the Peace River. Photo Credit - Ian Gregg

BC Hydro looks for ways to increase power generation as potential drought conditions loom

March 11, 2024 by Ian Gregg

Persistent drought conditions persist in Northern BC could lead BC Hydro to import power this summer.

Mike Kellett, BC Hydro’s Manager of Northern Community Relations identifies that the crown corporation’s Call For Power Request for Proposals is a potential solution for future energy demand. The goal of the plan is to purchase renewable energy from independent power producers.

If hydro-electric generation cannot keep up with demand, importing power from the USA and/or Alberta is an option. When the Site C dam comes online in 2025, hydro electric capacity will increase up to 1.1 megawatts.

As industry expands in BC, and demands for electricity grows, options such as hydrogen plant proposals, and EV use are being explored.

An aspen branch's bud freezes in temperatures below -30ºC. The bud is burgundy in colour, contrasted with the white snow behind it.

Coldsnap isn’t just hard on people — plants feel the stress too

January 12, 2024 by Ian Gregg

The recent coldsnap combined with below-average snowpack in the Prince George area stresses many of plants in the region, but the picture is bigger than that.

Dr. Lisa Wood, Plant Biologist and Associate Professor at UNBC, told CFUR News that snow provides an insulative layer over the ground where roots spread,. Meanwhile, a concerning lack of snow affects many species in the area, especially to the east. For those stressed, their spring/summer response of plants will vary between dying, focusing on repairing the damage incurred before flowering, or even bearing more fruit than usual at the end of their growing season.

Factors like insect infestation and fire are an increased risk in these conditions. However, some annual plants currently dormant as a seed may have an opportunity, benefitting from either a lack of competition from other plants typically thriving in more average conditions, enjoying more sunlight due to a sparser forest canopy, or assisted by the drier soil.

A train bridge which spans across the confluence of a dry river. The sky is blue with a couple of clouds low on the horizon.

Low levels on Nechako River causes concern

December 4, 2023 by Ian Gregg

The Nechako River’s levels are low, and Dr. Stephen Déry of UNBC’s Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences confirms that it’s a cause for concern. Low levels in the Nechako watershed make the waterbody more sensitive to temperature fluctuations, putting stress on the ecosystem, potentially increasing the likelihood of flooding due to ice-dams.

Déry doesn’t mince words when pointing to the cause of this situation, “Definitely it is the lack of precipitation. We’ve seen below average precipitation in Prince George since June 2022.”

The Rio Tinto owned Kinney Dam upriver influences the watershed as well. It’s conceivable that its Skins Lake spillway releases could help regulate river flow, achieving rates closer to average levels. Smaller structures though, such as beaver dams and artificial beaver dam analogues could help. “That could actually increase the area of wetlands, essentially replenish zone moisture groundwater and ultimately feed into rivers.”

A lake with a mountain behind it covered in trees

Comox Valley moves to Stage 3 watering restrictions to protect salmon

September 11, 2023 by Mick Sweetman

The Comox Valley Regional District moved new stage three watering restrictions today.

Under the new restrictions, residents are not allowed to water their lawns at any time. Only hand watering or micro/drip irrigation of trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables is permitted.

The watering restrictions include the Town of Comox, the City of Courtenay and the Comox Valley Water Local Service Area.

Image of the Comox Valley Water System Watering Schedule.

Kris La Rose, senior manager of water services for the district, says the restrictions are in place due to BC Hydro reducing flow to the Puntledge River in order to ensure there is enough water to last through the salmon spawning season.

“We have several salmon runs coming up the river and so the emphasis or the focus is on making sure that there’s enough water,” La Rose said. “It’s less than it than the fish would like but it’s seen as a better idea to reduce the flow and maintain be able to maintain some flow through to the end of the year, rather than flowing hard now and then risking having the river dry up in in October or early November if the if the rains are late again.”

For more information on the watering restrictions in the Comox Valley, you can go to the Comox Valley Regional district’s website.