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
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has declared a local state of emergency and issued an evacuation order for numerous properties in response to the Thomas Creek wildfire burning near Okanagan Falls, south of Penticton. To the north, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District has also added properties to one of more than 20 evacuation orders in the large region surrounding Kamloops. To the west, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has downgraded an evacuation order for 184 properties near the Michaud Creek fire, which is listed as a “fire of note” — meaning it’s highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District partially rescinded an order near Sicamous, but it remained in effect for a pocket of properties.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has released more information about a body found located inside a vehicle burning outside Langley last week. It says in a statement the victim was a white male, though further identification is pending, and the vehicle was a Red Ford F-150 truck with body-kit modifications. Police say early information indicates the incident was targeted
and investigators are determining whether it was related to gang conflicts in the Lower Mainland. They say the victim was not connected to the area where the vehicle was found and I-HIT is asking anyone with dash-cam footage from driving around 200 Street and 82 Avenue last Tuesday around 6:45 p-m to come forward
Parts of B-C’s south coast have joined swathes of the southern Interior that are subject to special weather statements by Environment Canada due to heat. The weather agency says temperatures in Metro Vancouver will rise later this week by three to five degrees compared with today, pushing into the low 30s inland. It says overnight lows will also rise into the mid to high teens. The hottest temperatures are expected Thursday to Saturday in the Fraser Valley and Sea to Sky regions, along with inland Vancouver Island.
Canada has won its first-ever Olympic softball medal. Kelsey Harshman drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning as the Canadians beat Mexico 3-2 for bronze at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday. Emma Entzminger added two RBIs to secure a podium finish at Yokohama Baseball Stadium, some 13 years after the program’s agonizing fourth-place showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. And although left heartbroken when Canada’s gold-medal hopes were dashed with Sunday’s 1-0 extra-inning loss to Japan, they won’t go home empty-handed. Softball and baseball were dropped from the Games docket in 2012 and 2016, and won’t be part of Paris 2024, but both are expected to be back four years later in Los Angeles. And don’t worry they did have one fan in the stands to celebrate, Canadian chef de mission Marnie McBean, on the 25th anniversary of her own rowing triple gold, made up the country’s cheering section, sitting directly behind home plate with two flags and a drum.
British Columbians are being asked to take precautions this week, as Environment Canada has issued another heat warning for most of the province. The extreme heat is predicted to last from Wednesday, July 28 to Saturday, July 31. “Extreme heat is dangerous and can have devastating and deadly consequences,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Health authorities and BC Emergency Health Services are preparing to assist people in need during the heat wave. British Columbians must also make any necessary preparations ahead of time and take steps to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones.” Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said, “British Columbians should be vigilant, watch for warnings and take steps to stay safe during extreme heat. Follow health advice and call for emergency help if you need it.” Environment Canada notes the higher-than-normal temperatures will provide little relief at night, with elevated overnight temperatures, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. “It is important to be aware of and follow the health guidelines provided to keep your body cool while temperatures outside rise,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “This includes limiting physical activity outdoors, finding a cool, air-conditioned place and keeping hydrated, and taking extra care to check in with people most at risk, including infants and young children and older people.” During heat alerts, the Province works together with health authorities and local governments to take action to protect people and communities. Health-authority declarations trigger responses in affected regions, including the opening of cooling centres by local authorities, focused action throughout the health-care system with targeted support for vulnerable British Columbians, including seniors, and support for local communities and First Nations through Emergency Management BC.
Fraser Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak over in the high intensity rehabilitation unit at Laurel Place in Surrey. With the implementation of comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in care facilities, there are no longer any COVID-19 cases at this location. It is critically important for people living in the Fraser Health region to get tested as soon as you have COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones. Please don’t wait, and book or drop by one of our collection centres which are operated in partnership with local Divisions of Family Practice. People living in the Fraser Health region can find information about test collection centres by visiting Fraser Health’s website. To book a COVID-19 testing appointment, complete a COVID-19 test booking form. For more information about COVID-19, please visit fraserhealth.ca/covid19.
BC health officials announced 150 new test-positive COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the province to 149,259. In a written statement, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix said that there are 783 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. Of the active cases, 44 individuals are currently hospitalized, 22 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
New and total active cases, broken down by health region, are as follows:
- Fraser Health: 32 new cases, 196 total active cases
- Vancouver Coastal Health: 17 new cases, 122 total active cases
- Interior Health: 95 new cases, 412 total active cases
- Northern Health: Three new cases, 14 total active cases
- Island Health: Three new cases, 35 total active cases
- Outside of Canada: No new cases, four total active cases
There have been no new COVID-19-related deaths, which leaves a total of 1,768 deaths in British Columbia. To date, 80.7% of all eligible people 12 and over have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, 6,637,241 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in BC. There are two active outbreaks in BC. One is in long-term care at Holyrood Manor in Fraser Health, and the other is at Nelson Jubilee Manor in Interior Health. 146,700 people who tested positive have now recovered.
Surrey council has quashed plans for an inclusive-housing project proposed for South Surrey. Following several hours of public hearings – including more than three hours spent listening to dozens of people weigh in on the Harmony development eyed for the 15100-block of 20 Avenue – council voted just after 1:10 a.m. Tuesday (July 27) against an amendment bylaw and variance permit that were sought to facilitate the six-storey, 91-unit development. The majority of those who spoke to the project proposed by UNITI had expressed support. In an early-morning tweet, the organization’s CEO described the decision as devastating. “Despite overwhelming public and city staff support, Harmony was not approved by @CityofSurrey Council this morning,” Doug Tennant tweeted. “Devastating for those who have waited years for a place they could call home.”