Top Stories – Aug 15 – Wildfire Heat

The BC Wildfire Service says this week’s heat wave and windy conditions could present more challenges for crews battling several big wildfires in the province. The Ministry of Emergency Management says a repeat of the 2021 heat dome, which claimed more than 600 lives, is not in the forecast. But it is warning people to be careful to stay out of the heat, drink water and limit activity.

Hundreds of Northwest Territories residents have been airlifted out of danger as wildfires continue to burn north of Yellowknife. Canadian Forces arrived to help with firefighting efforts and are expected to be fully mobilized by today. Yellowknife is still considered safe, but residents of Hay River, Fort Smith and Jean Marie River have been forced from their homes as area highways have been deemed unsafe.

An investigation is underway after a body was found inside a vehicle in Vernon on Saturday night. No details regarding the identity of the victim or cause of death have been released. However RCMP did say that that nothing had been found to indicate a danger to the public.

Today and tomorrow between 7 and 5 the Mission Creek Greenway between Cedars Bridge and Smoothing Stone Bridge will be closed. Crews will be removing a big tree that fell into the creek and make repairs to trail infrastructure. The area is about 1 kilometre upstream of the Hollywood Road parking lot.

Hawaii’s governor says the Maui wildfires burned as fast as 1.6-kilometres per minute, with temperatures of more than 537 degrees. Josh Green expects they will probably find 10 to 20 people per day for the next 10 days. Tourists are advised to avoid travelling to Maui as many hotels prepare to house evacuees and first responders.

A survey by recruiting company Robert Half shows employers and workers might be thinking in line with each other when it comes to the issue of hybrid work. 54 percent of hiring managers and 49 percent of professionals think a model combining remote and in-office work is the ideal situation. 38 percent of managers and 28 percent of professionals think being back in the office full-time is best.

Advocates for renters in BC say it’s time to consider setting a maximum temperature for rental housing to protect vulnerable tenants from dangerous heat. The province announced in June that it was launching a $10-million fund to purchase and install up to 8,000 air conditioners for low-income people. But advocates have expressed worry that requiring a landlord’s consent to get the free air conditioners is putting up an unnecessary barrier for tenants.

Hardy Falls Regional Park will be closed for three days this week to allow construction crews to complete structural repair work to Bridge #1. It’ll be closed today, tomorrow and Thursday from 7am to 5pm. There will be signs and barricades letting park-goers know about the closure.

Mom always said ‘eat your veggies’ and now comes word that eating them every day will likely make you healthier – and happier. Research from the U-S, has determined that test subjects who ate vegetables were happier than people who didn’t. No scientific reason was given for the difference.

SPORTS

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros missed practice after being injured in a game last week. He sustained an upper-body injury in the first half of Winnipeg’s 38-29 comeback road win over the Elks last week.

The Toronto Blue Jays have the Philadelphia Phillies in town for a couple of days. First pitch this afternoon goes just after 4. Toronto is just ahead of Seattle for the final American League wild card spot.

FIve-time NFL MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Peyton Manning has been appointed a professor of practice at the College of Communication and Information at the University of Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee in 1997 with a degree in speech communication.