9.49°C Vancouver

Jun 21, 2024 6:59 PM - The Canadian Press

Large, smoky fire extinguished in Metro Vancouver, air quality bulletin to be lifted

Share On
large-smoky-fire-extinguished-in-metro-vancouver-air-quality-bulletin-to-be-lifted
The district's air quality map shows the area around the now-extinguished blaze near the Oak Street Bridge on the north arm of the Fraser River is ranked at level two of 10, indicating "low risk."(Photo: The Canadian Press)

The Metro Vancouver Regional District says a fire at a trestle bridge in Richmond, B.C., has been extinguished after sending up huge plumes of smoke that prompted an air quality bulletin for the region.

The district says in an update on the social media platform X that air quality has now improved and it will issue an update to end the bulletin.

The district's air quality map shows the area around the now-extinguished blaze near the Oak Street Bridge on the north arm of the Fraser River is ranked at level two of 10, indicating "low risk."

Richmond Fire-Rescue said earlier Friday that crews had put out the warehouse portion of the industrial fire that broke out near River Rock Casino.

At the time, they were still working to extinguish flames on the trestle bridge at the boundary between Richmond and Vancouver.

The province's driver information system, DriveBC, indicates the Oak Street Bridge is now open in both directions after the fire forced its closure Thursday night.

Vancouver International Airport says its operations are not affected, but it encourages passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time to reach the airport.

Latest news

surrey-driver-loses-lamborghini-after-alleged-197-km-h-speed-on-alex-fraser-bridge
BCFeb 06, 2026

Surrey driver loses Lamborghini after alleged 197 km/h speed on Alex Fraser Bridge

A Surrey man is facing steep fines, a vehicle impound, and long-term insurance penalties after police allege he was travelling at nearly three times the posted speed limit on the Alex Fraser Bridge earlier this week. BC Highway Patrol says officers observed a Lamborghini SUV moving significantly faster than surrounding traffic just after 8:00 p.m. on February 4. Using a laser speed reader, police clocked the vehicle at 197 kilometres per hour in a 70 kilometre per hour zone while it was heading northbound over the Delta span. Police say the 51-year-old driver was issued multiple violation tick
federal-government-tightens-return-to-office-rules-for-public-servants
CanadaFeb 06, 2026

Federal government tightens return-to-office rules for public servants

The federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued updated return-to-office requirements that will see most public servants spending more time working on-site each week. According to a notice from the Treasury Board, the changes will be introduced in phases. Executives will be required to work from the office five days a week starting May 4, while all other federal employees must report to the workplace at least four days per week beginning July 6. At present, most federal workers are required to be in the office three days a week under a hybrid work policy that came into effec
canada-records-job-losses-in-january-as-labour-market-shows-new-signs-of-strain
CanadaFeb 06, 2026

Canada records job losses in January as labour market shows new signs of strain

Canada’s economy took a step backward in January as the country recorded a net loss of about 25,000 jobs, according to the latest Labour Force Survey released by Statistics Canada. The decline marks the first monthly drop in employment since late summer and signals renewed pressure in key sectors tied to trade and construction. The manufacturing and construction industries experienced the sharpest losses, with economists pointing to ongoing trade uncertainty and U.S. tariff pressures as contributing factors. Private-sector employment and part-time work were particularly affected, while women
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

TSB sending investigators after CN train derailment west of Edmonton

Federal transportation investigators are heading to central Alberta to examine a Canadian National Railway derailment that sent dozens of rail cars off the tracks west of Edmonton. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada confirmed it is deploying a team after 37 loaded train cars derailed Thursday near the hamlet of Wildwood, roughly 110 kilometres west of the provincial capital. The site is along a CN main line that carries a mix of freight through rural communities in the region. CN spokesperson Ashley Michnowski said preliminary information indicates the cars were loaded, but the company
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

Airdrie youth hockey team honours junior players killed in Alberta highway crash

A youth hockey team from Airdrie is paying tribute to three junior players who died in a highway collision in southern Alberta by wearing and sharing memorial stickers during an upcoming tournament. The under-13 AA Airdrie Lightning team will place the stickers on their helmets and hand them out to opposing teams while competing in Regina this week. The stickers feature the jersey numbers of the players and the logo of the Southern Alberta Mustangs, the junior team the victims played for. The initiative was organized by a Lightning parent who ordered close to 100 stickers with the goal of keep

Related News