Federal officials say the 2025 wildfire season is one of the worst on record for Canada, with a high risk of more fires in August. More than 5.5 million hectares of land have burned so far this year, more than double the 10-year average for mid-July. There are 561 fires burning, including 69 that are considered out of control, and most of them are on the Prairies. Officials say the fire risk rises throughout August and they are predicting higher than normal temperatures for most of the country next month. August is also slated to bring below-normal rainfall levels for the Prairies, B.C. and th

The mother of a 10-year-old Vancouver Island girl who has an extremely rare disease says the "nightmare is over" after the government restored funding for her daughter's drug for as long as she needs it. Charleigh Pollock is the only person in B.C. to have Batten disease, and her mother Jori Fales says in a social post that she is "beyond grateful" for "all the beautiful humans that have moved mountains" for her daughter. Pollock says the "love, support, generosity, compassion, kindness and devotion" shown by supporters of her daughters are "unmatched." Health Minister Josie Osborne announced

A personal injury lawyer in Mississauga, Ontario says he's not letting his 11-year-old son have an e-scooter, no matter how many of his friends do. Nainesh Kotak says his firm has seen several cases involving e-scooter accidents in recent years and that it's simply too dangerous. He says his firm sees major injuries in cases where kids are hit by e-scooters, including fractured arms, knees or ribs, as well as facial and head injuries. New data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information says hospitalizations involving e-scooters for kids and teens aged five to 17 increased by 61

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she is disheartened by a report into last summer's Jasper wildfire that she says unfairly criticizes and minimizes the contributions of her government. Smith, in a statement on social media, says the report and media coverage of it are “politically motivated,” but doesn’t elaborate. The report, based on surveys of firefighters and others, says Smith’s government complicated the response to the fire, which destroyed a third of the Jasper townsite. It says the province regularly requested information and attempted to make decisions despite not being j

On July 17, at 9:55pm, the Fort St John RCMP received a report of a man flashing a pistol at a member of the public, while walking in the area of 87 Street and 99 Ave, in Fort St John. Fort St John RCMP frontline officers immediately attended and located two individuals, one, a intoxicated man matching the description of the suspect with a pistol. The man was arrested for Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. A black pistol was located on the individual and seized by police. The pistol was later determined to be a BB pistol. Because the Fort St John RCMP take firearms calls very seri

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says at least three people are dead after an incident at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department facility. There was a reported explosion at the facility Friday morning. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has not confirmed any deaths. The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he’s been briefed on the matter. Los Angeles County Fire Department said it responded to calls about a possible explosion around 7:30 a.m. Newsom’s office said it occurred at the LA Coun

Police in Abbotsford, B.C., say a train derailment has forced the closure of 4th Avenue near the Canada-U.S. border crossing. The department says in a post to social media that the road is blocked off between West Railway to the commercial vehicle entrance for the Sumas border crossing. Police say access to the border entrance is not impacted.They say no injuries have been reported, but did not mention how the derailment happened. The department initially posted an advisory around 11 p.m. Thursday about the closure and to ask drivers to avoid the area. It says in the updated post on Friday tha

An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats. Sarah Spanier says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which she attributes to her advocacy for transgender people. She says she has received some messages stating she will be met with a shotgun if she knocks on doors. Spanier is one of almost 80 candidates running in Battle River-Crowfoot, with voters going to the polls Aug. 18. The riding was won handily by Conservative Damien Kurek in the April general election, but Kurek stepped down to all

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process. The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week. Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu last month asked the board to step in and put the Crown corporation's latest