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Daily Vancouver Jul 18 - Jul 18, 2026

B.C. wildfire count tops 100, 100+ properties evacuated & PG Airport delays up to 10 business days — Vancouver Saturday

18 articles 9 hours ago 10

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

  1. B.C. wildfire tally tops 100 after lightning barrage. Provincial officials report the wildfire count has surged past 100 following a widespread set of lightning strikes. The title notes the fire season transformed "in a flash" as lightning sparked multiple blazes across B.C.
  2. More than 100 properties ordered to evacuate near Big Bar Lake. Officials issued evacuation orders for over 100 properties as a wildfire grew close to Big Bar Lake, B.C. The title identifies Big Bar Lake as the evacuation zone.
  3. Family of 6 flees Boston Bar fires with 15 pets in tow. A single family of six evacuated from Boston Bar carrying 15 pets during nearby fires, according to the report title. The detail highlights the household size and the unusually large number of animals evacuated.
  4. Prince George Airport delays to last up to 10 business days after screener malfunction. The airport warned delays of up to 10 business days for luggage after a luggage screener malfunction, per the article title. The notice ties the extended delays directly to the equipment failure.

🏥 Health

  1. Report outlines the true toll of wildfire smoke. The article title frames wildfire smoke as having a measurable toll, indicating reported health or environmental consequences tied to smoke exposure. The title positions smoke impacts as a distinct, documented effect of recent fires.
  2. 100 Mile House emergency department closed for 89 hours over 6 days. The emergency department at 100 Mile House was closed for a total of 89 hours spread across six days, according to the article title. The closure length and spread are given in the title.
  3. B.C. Nurses' Union raises concerns about 'intimidation, retaliation' from employers. The union reported concerns about intimidation and retaliation while mediation continues, as stated in the article title. The title links the claims to ongoing mediation between the union and employers.
  4. Advocate calls for clearer warnings along Thompson River as a safety mission. An advocate described safety work along the Thompson River as "my mission" and urged clearer warnings, per the article title. The title highlights both the advocacy focus and the call for improved warnings.

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Former B.C. Liberal MLA promotes a new centrist party for moderate voters. A former B.C. Liberal MLA said a centrist party is the answer for voters tired of "extremes," according to the article title. The title presents the MLA's position on party realignment.
  2. Former New Democrats call for renewed commitment to climate strategy. Ex-New Democrats urged a renewed commitment to climate strategy, with the title quoting "I can't think of a less fair future" as part of their stance. The title frames the appeal as coming from former party members.

📰 Also Today

  • Victoria making progress with community safety plan, but some say more work is needed.
  • Film on Sikh activist banned in India finds support in Surrey, B.C., and elsewhere in Canada.
  • Former B.C. Liberal MLA says centrist party is the answer, for voters tired of "extremes."
  • Teacher planted trees to offset a large personal carbon debt, per the article title.
  • World Cup photographer used a 96-year-old camera in modern coverage, per the title.
  • Personal essay: Sarah uses they/them pronouns, titled "My name is Sarah, and my pronouns are they/them."
  • Elks improve to 5-1 with 19-17 win over Lions; Rourke injured, per the game report title.
  • Abducted Alberta children possibly in B.C., RCMP says, per the article title.
  • Former NDPs urge renewed climate strategy commitment, quoting a critique of the future.
  • Bear viewing area in Hyder, Alaska, closed due to flooding, per the title.
  • Prince George Airport warns luggage delays up to 10 business days, after screener malfunction.
  • Family of six evacuated from Boston Bar with 15 pets, per the fires report.
  • Over 100 properties evacuated near Big Bar Lake wildfire, per the title.
  • Coverage examines the true toll of wildfire smoke, per the article title.
  • Thompson River safety advocate demands clearer warnings, calling it a mission.
  • 100 Mile House ED closed 89 hours over six days, per the title.
  • B.C. Nurses' Union cites 'intimidation, retaliation' amid mediation, per the title.
  • Teacher planting to address past carbon footprint, per the title.

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Source Articles (18)

100 Mile House emergency department closes for 89 hours spread out over 6 days

Interior Health said patients can access Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during the closures. People who need life-threatening emergency care in 100 Mile House should call 911.

General Jul 18, 2026

Bear viewing area in Hyder, Alaska, closed due to flooding

The Fish Creek bear viewing area in Hyder, Alaska, suffered major damage in a recent glacial outburst flood, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

General Jul 18, 2026

Abducted Alberta children possibly in B.C.: RCMP

The case is connected to an Amber Alert that was issued on July 8 and then rescinded

General Jul 18, 2026

More than 100 properties ordered to evacuate as wildfire grows near Big Bar Lake, B.C.

More than a hundred properties are affected by an evacuation order issued for the Big Bar Lake area in B.C.’s southern Cariboo as an out of control wildfire grows rapidly.

General Jul 18, 2026

'I can't think of a less fair future': former New Democrats call for renewed commitment to climate strategy

On July 15, an open letter was sent to Premier David Eby and the B.C. NDP caucus. The letter was from 16 community leaders and former NDP MLAs and MPs, calling for the province to renew its commitment to its climate strategy.

General Jul 18, 2026

B.C. Nurses' Union raises concerns over 'intimidation, retaliation' from employers as mediation continues

The union representing nurses in B.C. held a rally in Prince George Friday to draw attention to what it says are instances of intimidation, as mediation with the Health Employers Association is adjourned for the weekend.

General Jul 18, 2026

Family of 6 flees Boston Bar fires with 15 pets in tow

When Brittany Alenius, her husband and their four children were told to evacuate, their prized possessions were packed up and ready to go. But the trickiest part was making space in the car for three dogs, six cats, two snakes, an iguana and three birds.

General Jul 18, 2026

Prince George Airport delays to last up to 10 business days after luggage screener malfunctions

Anyone with checked baggage traveling through the Prince George Airport is warned to arrive early as manual screening is in place after an automatic luggage checker malfunctioned.

General Jul 18, 2026

Elks surge to 5-1 record with 19-17 win over Lions, who lose Rourke to injury

The Edmonton Elks, who haven't made the playoffs since 2019, moved back into sole possession of first place in the West Division at 5-1.

General Jul 18, 2026

My name is Sarah, and my pronouns are they/them. But no one will understand my identity exactly as I do

For those who are close, "I want them to know the real me," writes Sarah Struthers, who is non-binary. "I remind people of my pronouns because I care about our relationship."

General Jul 18, 2026

This World Cup photographer used a 96-year-old camera 'in a world where everything is instant'

Fareed Kotb, a sports photographer from Cairo, garnered international attention when he was spotted snapping World Cup games using a 1930 large-format film camera.

General Jul 18, 2026

I ran up a massive carbon debt as a teacher. Now I'm planting to make amends

Over three decades, Michèle Shannon likely handed out more than 1.6 million sheets of paper to students. She wishes she had changed her relationship with the school photocopier much sooner and in retirement, she's planting more consciously.

General Jul 18, 2026

Former B.C. Liberal MLA says centrist party is the answer for voters tired of 'extremes'

Former B.C. Liberal MLA Mike Bernier is the new leader of Centre B.C. The party was formed in April 2025 after the B.C. Liberals, renamed to B.C. United, collapsed under Kevin Falcon.

General Jul 18, 2026

B.C. wildfire tally surges past 100 as barrage of lightning strikes transforms fire season in a flash

On Wednesday morning the province's firefighters faced only about 20 blazes in what had been a relatively quiet season so far, but as of Saturday morning there were 113 fires burning, including about 100 started since Friday.

General Jul 18, 2026

'This is my mission': Advocate for safety along Thompson River calls for clearer warnings

Robert Griffiths designed and implemented his own warning signs across Kamloops, B.C., in effort to prevent drownings. The City of Kamloops took those signs down within days, citing bylaw violations. Griffiths says there's improvements to be made.

General Jul 18, 2026

The true toll of wildfire smoke

Wildfire smoke is becoming a common part of summers in Canada. We look at how pollution from wildfires is setting back some of the world’s gains in the fight for clean air.

General Jul 18, 2026

Film on Sikh activist banned in India finds support in Surrey, B.C., and elsewhere in Canada

A film that has been blocked in Indian and also pulled from a streaming service two days after its release is drawing interest at community screenings across Canada, including a couple planned in Surrey, B.C., this weekend.

General Jul 18, 2026

Victoria making progress with community safety plan, but some say more work is needed

City staff, council and some community members say they’ve slowly begun solving some of the B.C. capital's most complex social problems.

General Jul 18, 2026