10.43°C Vancouver

Jul 27, 2021 3:10 PM -

Thirty-four Australian firefighting personnelset to arrive in B-C today

Share On
thirty-four-australian-firefighting-personnelset-to-arrive-in-b-c-today
Smoke particles from wildfires enhance the colour of a sunset as a motorist travels on Highway 97C near Logan Lake, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Above average temperatures for many parts of B.C. aren't expected to ease soon and Environment Canada says there is no hint of showers until at least the weekend for some regions of southern B.C. hit hard by wildfires. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Thirty-four Australian firefighting personnel are set to arrive in B-C today, joining hundreds from Mexico, Quebec, Alberta, Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces as they help battle some 250 wildfires burning across the province.

The B-C government says the group from Australia will include one nine-person incident management team, various specialized leadership roles and technical specialists who will be deployed under the direction of the B-C Wildfire Service.

It says out-of-province personnel are working under strict COVID-19 protocols.

More than 35-hundred people in total are involved in fighting operations across B-C, where the fire danger rating is listed as either high or extreme across swathes of southern Interior, Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

Latest news

WorldMar 16, 2026

Lebanon says Israeli attacks have killed nearly 900 people since March 2

Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the death toll from Israeli air and ground attacks since March 2 has risen to nearly 900 as tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 886 people have been killed and 2,141 others injured during Israeli strikes across parts of Lebanon over the past two weeks. The ministry said the attacks have also affected the country’s health-care system. Medical teams responding to emergencies were among those hit during the strikes. At least 38 health workers have been killed and another 69 injured w
ihit-takes-over-surrey-homicide-investigation-after-fatal-laurel-drive-shooting
CanadaMar 16, 2026

IHIT takes over Surrey homicide investigation after fatal Laurel Drive shooting

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over a homicide investigation following a fatal shooting early Saturday at a residence in Surrey. According to an IHIT news release, officers with the Surrey Police Service responded at about 1:40 a.m. to reports of shots fired inside a home in the 13900 block of Laurel Drive. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said officers immediately provided first aid until paramedics with BC Emergency Health Services arrived. The man was later pronounced dead at the scene. A man was arrested at the residence an
ottawa-commits-200m-toward-canadian-satellite-launch-pad-in-nova-scotia
CanadaMar 16, 2026

Ottawa commits $200M toward Canadian satellite launch pad in Nova Scotia

The federal government says it will invest $200 million over the next decade to secure access to a Canadian-owned satellite launch pad in Nova Scotia, part of a broader effort to build domestic space and defence capabilities. Defence Minister David McGuinty announced the initiative Monday at a laboratory operated by the Canadian Space Agency in Ottawa. The funding will be used to lease a launch pad near Canso that Ottawa says will form the foundation for a future Canadian spaceport. Canada currently relies on other countries, primarily the United States, to send satellites into orbit because i
environment-canada-warns-of-heavy-rain-wind-and-snow-across-parts-of-b-c-as-atmospheric-river-approaches
BCMar 16, 2026

Environment Canada warns of heavy rain, wind and snow across parts of B.C. as atmospheric river approaches

Environment Canada says parts of British Columbia are expected to see heavy rain, strong winds and periods of snow this week as an atmospheric river approaches the coast. The federal forecaster says Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound could receive up to 150 millimetres of rain by Wednesday, with prolonged heavy rainfall forecast to begin early this week. According to Environment Canada weather warnings, some areas could also see rain mixed with snow, raising concerns about rising river levels and localized flooding. Environment Canada has issued yellow weather warnings indicati
81-year-old-man-charged-with-second-degree-murder-after-fatal-shooting-at-port-alberni-trailer-park
BCMar 16, 2026

81-year-old man charged with second-degree murder after fatal shooting at Port Alberni trailer park

An 81-year-old man from Port Alberni has been charged with second-degree murder after a fatal shooting at a trailer park on Vancouver Island Friday night. According to a statement from the B.C. RCMP, Port Alberni RCMP officers were called to a report of a shooting at about 9 p.m. Officers who arrived at the scene found three men, including one who had suffered a gunshot wound. Police say the injured man died at the scene. His identity has not been released. The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit has taken conduct of the investigation and is working with Port Alberni RCMP. In a statem

Related News