Skip to Main content

8.99°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Apr 19, 2021 5:27 PM -

Wildfire fanned by winds near Merritt, B.C., prompts evacuation alert

Share On

wildfire-fanned-by-winds-near-merritt-b-c-prompts-evacuation-alert

British Columbia's provincial flag flies in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

A wildfire burning near homes in British Columbia's southern interior has prompted the first evacuation alert of B.C.'s barely three-week-old wildfire season.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued the alert for the small community of Canford and for homes in a subdivision about 12 kilometres northwest of Merritt.

The BC Wildfire Service says the suspected human-caused blaze was fanned by winds after being sparked on Sunday and now covers an estimated one square kilometre.

It is one of about a dozen wildfires reported Sunday from southern Vancouver Island to the Prince George and Cranbrook regions.

The wildfire danger rating has been ranked at low to moderate for much of the province, but several days of unseasonably warm weather has the potential to rapidly dry undergrowth as snow melts.

Environment Canada says record temperatures were set in 11 B.C. communities on Sunday, including a high of 28.4 C in Pemberton, and while conditions in Merritt remain warmer than usual, below freezing temperatures overnight could help crews tame the nearby fire.

Latest news

kamloops-rcmp-mark-fourth-anniversary-of-unsolved-2022-rural-homicide

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

The BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit is marking the fourth anniversary of the homicide of 18-year-old Jagraj Dhinsa, whose death in rural Kamloops remains unsolved. Dhinsa was found deceased in a parking lot along Chilcotin Road in January 2022. Police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death, but confirm the case continues to be actively investigated by the Southeast District Major Crime Unit. Staff Sergeant Jason Smart, unit commander of the SED MCU, said the investigation remains a priority for police and the justice system. He described the

west-coast-pipeline-discussed-as-carney-meets-alberta-and-b-c-premiers-in-ottawa

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

A proposed West Coast pipeline was among several major energy issues discussed during a meeting this week between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia. The talks brought together Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby in Ottawa, where long standing disagreements over pipeline expansion have often strained relations between the two provinces. Despite those differences, Eby described Wednesday’s meeting as constructive and said the tone was “borderline friendly.” Eby has previously voiced opposition to a new pipeline to the B.C. coa

six-charged-after-calgary-police-break-up-vehicle-theft-spree-linked-to-autobody-shop-break-ins

AlbertaJan 29, 2026

Six charged after Calgary police break up vehicle theft spree linked to autobody shop break-ins

Calgary police say six people are facing a combined total of more than 100 charges following an investigation into a series of vehicle thefts and commercial break-ins across the city. Investigators say the case began in December after officers became aware that a repeat offender, who was on probation at the time, was allegedly in possession of a stolen vehicle. That discovery led police to uncover what they describe as an organized pattern of thefts over a two-week period. According to police, multiple autobody shops were targeted, with suspects breaking into several businesses to steal vehicl

sukhbir-badal-meets-bikram-majithia-in-nabha-jail-alleges-political-pressure-on-punjab-government

IndiaJan 29, 2026

Sukhbir Badal meets Bikram Majithia in Nabha jail, alleges political pressure on Punjab government

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal visited Nabha jail on Thursday to meet senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is currently in judicial custody. The meeting comes amid ongoing political tensions in Punjab over allegations of misuse of investigative agencies. Speaking to reporters after the visit, Badal accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of acting under pressure from the central government. He claimed that Punjab’s interests were being compromised due to what he described as the state government’s inability to assert itself independently in matters involving feder

possible-ottawa-visit-by-india-trade-minister-seen-as-step-toward-reviving-canada-india-trade-talks

CanadaJan 29, 2026

Possible Ottawa visit by India trade minister seen as step toward reviving Canada–India trade talks

India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, is expected to visit Canada in the coming weeks, a move that could signal renewed momentum in stalled trade negotiations between the two countries. According to available information, Goyal may travel to Ottawa in the third week of February following a formal invitation from Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu. The proposed visit is largely focused on restarting discussions around a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which has remained on hold amid diplomatic strains. Both Canada and India have previou

Related News

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

Kamloops RCMP mark fourth anniversary of unsolved 2022 rural homicide

The BC RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit is marking the fourth anniversary of the homicide of 18-year-old Jagraj Dhinsa, whose death in rural Kamloops remains unsolved. Dhinsa was found deceased in a parking lot along Chilcotin Road in January 2022. Police have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding his death, but confirm the case continues to be actively investigated by the Southeast District Major Crime Unit. Staff Sergeant Jason Smart, unit commander of the SED MCU, said the investigation remains a priority for police and the justice system. He described the

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

West Coast pipeline discussed as Carney meets Alberta and B.C. premiers in Ottawa

A proposed West Coast pipeline was among several major energy issues discussed during a meeting this week between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia. The talks brought together Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby in Ottawa, where long standing disagreements over pipeline expansion have often strained relations between the two provinces. Despite those differences, Eby described Wednesday’s meeting as constructive and said the tone was “borderline friendly.” Eby has previously voiced opposition to a new pipeline to the B.C. coa

Coquitlam RCMP investigate reported threat at Poirier Street school, lockdown lifted

Coquitlam RCMP investigate reported threat at Poirier Street school, lockdown lifted

Coquitlam RCMP are investigating a reported threat at a school in the 500 block of Poirier Street after officers were called to the area Tuesday morning. Police say the school was placed in lockdown before officers arrived as a precaution. Mounties responded shortly after 9:30 a.m. and conducted a sweep of the school. Following an initial investigation, police determined there was no active threat to students or staff, and the lockdown was lifted. As a safety measure, several nearby schools were also briefly placed in a hold and secure while police assessed the situation. Those measures have s

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital