6.16^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Apr 11, 2025 3:47 PM - The Canadian Press

Alberta spending $900,000 to upgrade monitoring as wildfire season begins

Share On

alberta-spending-900-000-to-upgrade-monitoring-as-wildfire-season-begins

Forestry Minister Todd Loewen says $900,000 is being allocated to upgrade and expand its network of 150 weather stations.(Photo: Facebook/Todd Loewen)

As Alberta heads into the heart of wildfire season, the province is committing almost $1 million to upgrade its early-warning systems.

Forestry Minister Todd Loewen says $900,000 is being allocated to upgrade and expand its network of 150 weather stations.

These stations monitor environmental conditions, like temperature, humidity, wind and moisture, in real time to help fire crews know where they will be needed when the weather gets hot and dry.

The monitors will also be able to monitor snowpack levels, which are strong indicators of Alberta's fire risk early in the season.

Alberta's wildfire season has been slow off the mark, with 65 wildfires recorded so far compared with the 115 blazes that had started by this time last year.

The wildfire season officially began March 1, but the peak danger doesn't start until around May. Loewen said they are preparing as best they can for theinevitable. ``(We're) cautiously optimistic, but we know we do have challenges coming forward,'' he said Thursday. ``We know we're gonna have fires.''

Latest news

17-year-old-killed-in-dirt-bike-and-car-collision-in-nanaimo

17-Year-Old Killed in Dirt Bike and Car Collision in Nanaimo

A 17-year-old has died following a road collision in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. According to the RCMP, the crash occurred at around 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 2200 block of Extension Road in the southern part of the city, involving a dirt bike and a car. First responders rushed to the scene and made extensive efforts to save the teenager’s life. However, the victim succumbed to serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Following an initial investigati

bjp-nominates-hardeep-singh-puri-for-rajya-sabha-by-election-in-madhya-pradesh

BJP Nominates Hardeep Singh Puri for Rajya Sabha By-Election in Madhya Pradesh

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday nominated Hardeep Singh Puri as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election in Madhya Pradesh. Puri was first elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in January 2018. His current term is scheduled to end on November 25, 2026. The Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh fell vacant following the resignation of former Union Minister L. Murugan. The Election Commission has announced a by-election for the seat, with November 2 set as the last date for filing nominations. The BJP's Central Election Committee has approved Puri's candidature. According

boat-catches-fire-in-vancouvers-false-creek-two-people-escape-unharmed

Boat Catches Fire in Vancouver’s False Creek, Two People Escape Unharmed

A boat caught fire in False Creek in Vancouver late Tuesday night. Police said they received a report of the incident at around 11:30 p.m., following which Vancouver Fire Rescue and Coast Guard crews quickly arrived at the scene to help extinguish the blaze. According to Constable Darren Wong, an initial investigation suggests the fire was caused by a technical malfunction in a generator on board the boat. Fortunately, both people aboard the vessel safely escaped the incident without sustaining any injuries. Police clarified that the incident does not appear to be suspicious or the result of a

cross-border-tobacco-smuggling-racket-busted-in-canada-four-individuals-face-serious-charges

Cross-Border Tobacco Smuggling Racket Busted in Canada, Four Individuals Face Serious Charges

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in a joint operation with the RCMP in Saskatchewan, has uncovered a cross-border tobacco smuggling operation and laid serious criminal charges against four individuals. According to the CBSA, the group allegedly used the railway network to smuggle approximately 116,000 kilograms of illegal tobacco from the United States into Canada and between different provinces between October 2020 and April 2024. All four accused are residents of Ontario: 47-year-old Harminder Grewal of Brampton, 49-year-old Avikesh Sharma of Mississauga, 48-year-old Johnny Gamboa o

at-least-64-killed-in-spain-high-speed-train-collision

At Least 64 Killed in Spain High-Speed Train Collision

At least 64 people have been killed in a devastating collision involving two high-speed trains in Spain. Rescue workers continued searching through the wreckage on Wednesday for more bodies. The incident marks the country’s second major deadly rail accident this year. Following the crash, injured passengers and survivors were evacuated from the trains. Hundreds of ambulances, helicopters and other emergency response vehicles were deployed at the scene. According to preliminary information, a private Iryo train had stopped near Toledo after a signalling fault, reportedly on the instructions o

Related News

post card alt

UCP Leaders Won’t Be Allowed to Advocate Alberta’s Separation from Canada, Danielle Smith Announces

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced that anyone seeking a position on the United Conservative Party (UCP) board will have to sign a pledge opposing provincial separation at the party’s annual general meeting next month. Smith said Albertans voted overwhelmingly to remain part of Canada in last week’s referendum, and the party must respect the result. Current board members are also expected to honour the commitment. Candidates running under the UCP banner in next year’s provincial election will also be required to respect the referendum results. The move is aimed at keeping separ

post card alt

Heavy Snowfall Warning for Edmonton, Up to 15 cm of Snow Expected

A special weather alert has been issued for Edmonton and surrounding communities in Central Alberta, with up to 15 centimetres of snow expected by Thursday morning. According to the warning, the first major snowfall of the season began Tuesday night and is expected to continue through Thursday morning. Snowfall overnight has already caused difficulties for commuters travelling to work early Wednesday. Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for their journeys and prepare for rapidly changing and deteriorating road conditions. Mainroad Alberta Contracting, which maintains approximately 4,

post card alt

Jamie Dacosta Expected to Plead Guilty in Death Threat Case Against Mark Carney

Jamie Dacosta, who is accused of making death threats against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is expected to plead guilty. His defence lawyer has been instructed to arrange a sentencing date. A court appearance on Thursday is expected to set a date for the guilty plea and request a pre-sentence report. The 31-year-old faces several other charges, including extortion, criminal harassment, uttering death threats and property damage. Dacosta’s mother, Kathie Dacosta, says he has been struggling with serious mental and emotional health issues. He is currently being held at the Calgary Reman

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2024 AKASH BROADCASTING INC.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

BC Children's Hospital