Hundreds of lightning strikes in many parts of British Columbia almost tripled the number of active wildfires in the province over the weekend, with most burning in central and northern B.C. The BC Wildfire Service is reporting more than 300 fires, with 87 spotted in the last 24 hours and almost 200 of the total number ranked as out of control. The wildfire service is bracing for challenging conditions, with lightning storms still in the forecast for most of the week, as well as heat warnings or above-average temperatures through the central Interior. Of the 13 blazes listed as "fires of note,

The B.C. RCMP says a former probationary constable at the force's Surrey detachment has been charged with multiple offences after a months-long corruption investigation.Mounties say the ex-constable faces 13 charges related to drug trafficking, breach of trust, theft, cannabis distribution and conspiracy to commit robbery.Police say the force started a covert investigation in the summer of 2020 after becoming aware that the former constable was allegedly associating with criminals.They say he was arrested after a six-month investigation in January 2021 for offences allegedly committed both on

Airbnb has won a court ruling that quashes an order from British Columbia's privacy commissioner that would have identified hosts and their home addresses in Vancouver.The B.C. Supreme Court ruling released Wednesday says the Information and Privacy Commissioner got it wrong when it ordered the City of Vancouver to release the information about hosts who hold short-term rental licences without notifying them.Justice Jasvinder Basran's ruling says the privacy commissioner must reconsider its findings after notifying Airbnb hosts about the potential release of the information.The ruling says bot

The police have released the identity of the youth who was murdered on Sunday in Coquitlam.The deceased was Punjabi youth Karnvir Singh Garcha.He was 25 years old.Police said that Karnvir Singh was found injured near Foster Avenue near North Road at 9.30 pm and despite all efforts, he died on the spot. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said that Garcha along with another person had been issued a warning by the police in December to avoid gangs as their names were associated with gang violence and drug trade.Surrey RCMP described Garcha as a risk to the community at the time.Police sai

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver says strong demand for the few homes listed for sale last month helped boost the benchmark price for all residential properties in the region to just over 1.2 million dollars.The board says that's up 1.3 per cent in a single month, although it's still more than two per cent below the benchmark price set one year ago.Overall, the board says the housing market continues to outperform expectations with the apartment or condo market eclipsing slightly slower sales in the townhouse and detached home sectors.The board also notes that sales continue to outst

Negotiations between the union representing British Columbia port workers and maritime employers have stalled and the workers' strike has entered its fifth day.More than 7,000 workers at 30 B.C. ports have been on strike since Saturday morning.The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada says that jurisdiction is being eroded by the use of contractors.Port automation and the cost of living are key issues in contracting.Business organizations as well as Alberta and Saskatchewan officials have asked Ottawa to move forward and end the strike, but federal Labor Minister Seamus O'Regan sa

Baltej Singh Dhillon has been appointed Chair of WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors for a three-year term effective Friday, June 30.Dhillon is the first South Asian Canadian to hold this role, and has been a member of WorkSafeBC's Board of Directors since 2017.Dhillon had a distinguished career as a police officer spanning more than three decades.Notably, Dhillon created history by becoming the first RCMP member to wear a turban as part of his uniform.In addition, he also received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals for community service.

A British Columbia health authority has issued a public warning after it says benzodiazepines were detected in vape juice sold in Chilliwack, B.C.Fraser Health issued an overdose alert Thursday saying the juice that tested positive contained cannabis and suspected synthetic cannabinoids and was sold in refillable, unmarked and unbranded cartridges.It did not specify where the product was sold.The alert says reported side-effects include prolonged sedation, nausea, vomiting and blackouts.Health Canada says benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a class of substances often used as sedatives and tranqui

The British Columbia government says staff members at the Children's Ministry who failed to check on two Indigenous children who were systematically abused by their foster parents have lost their jobs.A judge sentenced the foster parents this month to 10 years each in prison for the death of the 11-year-old boy and his eight-year-old sister's serious injuries, saying it was incomprehensible how someone could inflict such suffering and violence on an innocent child.While the Ministry of Children and Family Development does not provide the names or the number of people involved, it says in a sta