Lightning ignites wildfires; hikers trapped on mountain Lightning dances above Horseshoe Bay during Saturday's electrical storm. Photo by David Zhang. The electrical storm that tore through the South Coast on Saturday night created chaos on a number of fronts. Thousands of lightning strikes peppered Vancouver Island and the South Coast, creating havoc at Vancouver International Airport and causing sweeping power outages. Vancouver Island, which this season has experienced jus

Some Oceanview Road and Kelvin Grove homes on notice Smoke plume from Lone Tree Creek fire as seen from Mountain Drive vantage point Sunday at 7 p.m. (left) and then Monday morning at 7 a.m. (right) Update 11:45 a.m.: Notification via both Alertable and BC Wildfire that the Lone Tree Creek fire is now being held. BC Wildfire update. (Click image to go to site). Alertable notification: The evacuation alert has also been rescinded. Sign up for the free Alertable app through any

BC Wildfire, LBSAR on scene, asking residents to avoid area Blue smoke from a wildfire above Lions Bay can be seen against the low clouds, August 23. Photo by kc dyer. BC Wildfire and Lions Bay Search and Rescue have been deployed to a wildfire near the Village. Likely the result of a lightning strike from last night's storm, LBSAR's Training and Search Manager Maria Masiar says the fire is burning at approximately 400-450 metres above sea level, at a location between Lone Tr

Air quality shows some improvement, fire situation remains critical Smoky skies over Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound. Photo: kc dyer. Smoky skies continue in the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky, with vivid sunsets balanced with poor air quality. British Columbia remains in a state of emergency because of the fires still raging across the province. However, according to FireSmoke.ca, given forecasted wind patterns, there is a possibility that some of the smoke could blow out of the

Porteau Cove fire adds to Howe Sound's smoky skies BC Wildfire Services map of the Coastal Fire Centre, August 15, 2026. There are currently 123 fires burning across BC, with 27 of them within the Coastal Fire Region, and more than half of those are rated as out of control. Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Advisory for smoke across much of southern BC, including Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky. The fire that broke out yesterday near Porteau Cove is likely contributing to

Valeriote addresses fossil fuel choices in light of BC wildfires 'Wildfire of Note' Ainslie Creek blaze, one of the more than 100 wildfires currently burning in the province. Photo: BC Wildfire Service. Local MLA Jeremy Valeriote is asking both the province and the federal government to wake up when it comes to support for fossil fuel projects. Currently the BC Wildfire Service is fighting 109 wildfires in the province, with 50 of those fires rated as out of control. Firefigh

Donations of cash, food and even pastureland needed Helicopter tanker dumps water on the Bald Range wildfire, August 10. Photo courtesy BC Wildfire. British Columbia remains under a state of emergency with 101 fires burning across the province, according to BC Wildfire Service, and 46 of them out of control. The explosive growth of the Bald Range fire near Summerland in the Kamloops Fire Centre and the Pear Lake fire in the Cariboo continue to be classed as Wildfires of Note.

Potential for fire activity is expected to increase Click the image above for the most up-to-date BC Wildfire Service Activity Map. Update, 7 p.m.: BCWildfire has downgraded the Belcarra fire to 'being held' earlier this afternoon. There are now eight fires rated as 'out of control' in the Coastal Fire District. Original story: With some of the hottest days of summer still ahead, the wildfire situation remains grave throughout much of the province. According to BC Wildfire 11

Blaze south of Pemberton now being held Aerial shot of the Signal Hill Fire taken when first spotted, July 15. Courtesy BC Wildfire Service. July 19 Update: BC Wildfire Service continues to report the Signal Hill Fire as 'Being Held', and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has rescinded the Evacuation Alert for the Village of Pemberton and surrounding area. The Evacuation Order remains in place for One Mile Lake Park in order to allow safe working space for firefighters.

Low snowpack, but it's not all bad news Tunnel Bluffs Wildfire, August 30, 2025. Image courtesy BC Wildfire. This year's low snowpack in parts of British Columbia is leaving forecasters in an ambivalent position when it comes to predicting the chance of wildfires. BC Wildfire Service ’s lead fire weather forecaster Matthew MacDonald reports that the province is already into wildfire season. As of April 16, there are four active wildfires burning in the province, with 13 fires

Smoky skies improve; danger rating still high Image: BC Wildfire Service, September 8, 2025. While predicted rains over the weekend...

Regional wildfires pose breathing hazard Lions Bay residents woke up this morning to smoke-filled skies, with even the closest islands in...

Tunnel Bluffs trail fire may have been human-caused Natural Resource Officers (NROs) from the province's Ministry of Forests were on the...

Fire kept to under one hectare in size Wildfire near Tunnel Bluffs trail, north of Lions Bay, August 30, 2025. Image courtesy BC Wildfire...