>> Mike: TONIGHT ON CBC
VANCOUVER NEWS...
>> IF WE GET SOME STRONG WINDS
THREATEN OUR LINES WILL BE
CHALLENGED, FOR SURE.
>> Lien: SOUTH OKANAGAN HOMES
THREATENED BY B.C.'S BIGGEST
WILDFIRE.
>>> ALSO...
>> SO TODAY WE ARE REPORTING 18
NEW CASES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA OF
COVID-19 IN THE LAST 24 HOURS.
>> Mike: AS COVID-19 NUMBERS
SURGE, B.C.'S DEATH TOLL REACHES
200.
>>> AND...
>> IF HE DOESN'T HAVE THE SPACE,
I WILL NOT SENDS HIM.
>> Lien: VANCOUVER'S BACK TO
SCHOOL PLANS REVEALED, BUT
PARENTS FIND LITTLE REASSURANCE.
>> (Announcer): THIS IS CBC
VANCOUVER NEWS...
>> GOOD EVENING, THANKS FOR
BEING WITH US ONLINE.
ANOTHER GRIM MILESTONE IN B.C.'S
FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 TONIGHT.
>> Lien: TWO MORE PEOPLE HAVE
DIED, BRINGING THE PROVINCE'S
DEATH TOLL TO 200 PEOPLE.
THERE ARE ALSO 80 NEW CASES,
HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE
CASES HAS DROPPED SLIGHTLY TO
780.
THE HAIDA GWAII OUTBREAK IS NOW
OVER WITH NO NEW CASES.
BUT THERE IS A NEW OUTBREAK IF
FAIRLY HEALTH.
NINE CASES ARE CONFIRMED AT A
LOBLAWS WAREHOUSE.
11 PEOPLE ARE IN HOSPITAL, FOUR
IN I.C.U.
NEARLY 2600 PEOPLE NOW ARE
ISOLATING AFTER POSSIBLE
EXPOSURE.
>>> THE VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD
HAS UNVEILED ITS PLANS TO RETURN
TO IN-CLASS LEARNING.
>> Mike: SOME PARENTS SAY IT'S
UNCLEAR JUST HOW BIG CLASS SIZES
WILL ACTUALLY BE.
>> Lien: AS JON HERNANDEZ
REPORTS, QUESTIONS REMAIN AS TO
WHETHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO
PRACTICE SAFE PHYSICAL
DISTANCING.
>> ANDREA OLIVERI KNOWS JUST HOW
MUCH HER TEN-YEAR-OLD SON
NICHOLAS WANTS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
>> HE WANTS TO GO TO SEE HIS
TEACHER AND CLASSMATES.
>> LAST NIGHT SHE GOT A GLIMPSE
OF THE SCHOOL BOARD'S PLAN FOR
THE FALL RETURN.
ONE IMPORTANT DETAIL WAS
MISSING.
>> THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING
ABOUT THE FLOOR PLAN.
NOTHING ABOUT HOW MANY DESKS ARE
GOING TO BE INSIDE THE
CLASSROOMS.
>> Reporter: SCHOOLS WILL
REOPEN TO STUDENTS ON
SEPTEMBER 10.
IS THE VANCOUVER DISTRICT HAS
ROLLED OUT A SWATH OF HEALTH AND
SAFETY PROTOCOLS TO LIMIT
CONTACT BETWEEN STUDENTS, FROM
SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THAT MEANS
DIVIDING UP THE SCHOOL YEAR INTO
FOUR TERMS, THE HYBRID MODEL OF
ONLINE AND IN-CLASS LEARNING.
BUT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IT
APPEARS LITTLE WILL CHANGE.
>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT THE
ELEMENTARY LEVEL KIND OF SEEMS
TO FLY IN THE FACE OF WHAT WE'RE
BEING ASKED TO DO IN EVERY OTHER
PUBLIC PLACE.
>> Reporter: CLASS SIZES WILL
STAY THE SAME WITH STUDENTS
CONFINED TO COHORTS TO LIMIT
THEIR BUBBLE AND TEACHERS
YANKING OUT FURNITURE TO CREATE
ROOM WHERE THEY CAN.
BUT STILL NO MANDATORY MASKS OR
PLEXIGLASS.
THE GUIDELINES WERE GREENLIT BY
THE PROVINCE WEEKS AGO, BUT WITH
COVID-19 CASES SURGING, GORD LOW
WANDERS IF THE PLANS ARE STILL
VIABLE.
>> I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH
THE ELEMENTARY PLAN FOUR, FIVE
WEEKS AGO.
>> Reporter: THE VSB SAYS IT
WILL STAGGER RECESS, LUNCHES AND
PICKUPS.
MASKS WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND
THERE COULD BE MORE CHANGES DOWN
THE LINE.
>> AS OUR PLAN IS HOPEFULLY
APPROVED, WE WILL THEN LOOK AT
WHAT ARE ALTERNATE SPACES WITHIN
THE SCHOOLS WE COULD USE.
>> Reporter: AS FOR PARENTS
LIKE OLIVERI, THE RISK MIGHT NOT
BE WORTH IT.
HER SON HAS SPECIAL NEEDS AND
SHE HAS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED
FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN HER
BUBBLE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NOW IF HE'S ONE
OF THOSE CHILDREN THAT THEY
REACT FAST TO CORONAVIRUS?
WHAT HAPPENS IF HE'S
ASYMPTOMATIC AND THEN COMES HOME
AND ALL THE REST OF THE PEOPLE
DIE?
>> Reporter: THE PROVINCE SAYS
IT'S CONFIDENT GUIDELINES WILL
LIMIT TRANSMISSIONS.
DISTRICT PLANS ARE EXPECTED TO
BE APPROVED NEXT WEEK.
JON HERNANDEZ, CBC NEWS,
VANCOUVER.
>> Mike: AND AS WE'VE JUST
HEARD, ONE OF THE CONSISTENT
CONCERNS IS PHYSICAL DISTANCING
IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> Lien: OUR TANYA FLETCHER
JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE ON THAT
ANGLE.
>>> SO, TANYA, YOU PUT THIS TO
HEALTH OFFICIALS TODAY.
WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO SAY?
>> WE HEARD IT AGAIN TODAY, AS
WE HEARD FROM THE B.C.T.F.
YESTERDAY AS WELL THAT
SKEPTICISM AROUND PHYSICAL
DISTANCING, CAN IT ACTUALLY BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT SMALLER CLASS
SIZES.
REMEMBER THE PROVINCE HAS SAID
STUDENTS WILL BE CLUSTERED
TOGETHER IN LEARN GROUPS BUT
THOSE SIZES ARE 60 OR EVEN 120
STUDENTS IN THESE BUCKS.
SO I ASKED THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL
HEALTH OFFICER, IS THE MAIN
STRATEGY TO RELY ON CONTACT
TRACING IF THERE'S A COVID CASE
WITHIN ONE OF THESE GROUPS
RATHER THAN TRYING TO PREVENT
THE SPREAD IN THE FIRST PLACE
THROUGH SUFFICIENT PHYSICAL
DISTANCING AND HERE'S WHAT SHE
SAID.
>> NO, ACTUALLY, THE PLANS ARE
VERY MUCH DESIGNED FIRST AND
FOREMOST TO PREVENT CASES OF
COVID-19.
AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING IS A
GRADIENT, IT'S NOT AN ABSOLUTE.
WE OFTEN TELL PEOPLE -- PROVIDE
THE GUIDANCE OF TWO METRES,
MOSTLY BETWEEN YOURSELF AND
STRANGERS, IN PUBLIC.
AND THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY WAYS TO
DO THAT IN THE SCHOOL SETTING.
>> Reporter: SHE WAS ALSO
ASKED IF B.C. WOULD MIRROR
ALBERTA IN ASKING ALL STUDENTS
AND STAFF TO GET TESTED BEFORE
SCHOOL STARTS UP AGAIN.
SHE SAID NO, THAT'S NOT AN
OPTION, THE SCIENCE IT TELLING
THEM TO TAKE.
>> ALL RIGHT, TANYA, AGAIN
TODAY, ANOTHER SURGE IN NEW
CASES, 80 BEING REPORTED.
ARE YOUNG PEOPLE CONTINUING TO
ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THOSE?
>> YES, BUT THERE IS A BIT OF A
CONCERN LOOKING AT EVERY OTHER
AGE GROUP AS WELL NOW.
THEY HIGHLIGHTED TODAY A SLIGHT
UPTICK IN FACES AMONG 40 TO
60-YEAR-OLDS, IT IS A SMALL
INCREASE BUT STILL NOTABLE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS CHART WHICH
BREAKS DOWN THE NEW CASES BY AGE
DEMOGRAPHIC.
SO GOING UP THE TOP TWO LINES
ACCOUNT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE,
THE RED IS AGE 20 TO 30, THE
BLUE AGE 30 TO 40.
WE KNOW THAT DEMOGRAPHIC IS
STILL DRIVING THE BULK OF B.C.'S
CASELOAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR
A FEW WEEKS AS YOU CAN SEE.
BUT LOOK AT THE BOTTOM THREE
LINES, COMBINED, THEY REPRESENT
EVERYONE ABOVE THE AGE OF 40.
SO MORE RECENTLY, IF YOU SEE
JUST IN THE PAST WEEK OR SO,
THEY STARTED TO INCREASE AS
WELL, AND THAT IS A PARTICULAR
CONCERN, BECAUSE THAT COULD
TRIGGER ALARM ABOUT AN INCREASE
IN HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG THE
MORE VULNERABLE.
SO REGARDLESS OF THE AGE RANGE,
THERE IS ONE SETTING IN
PARTICULAR THAT CONTINUES TO BE
A KEY SOURCE OF TRANSMISSION.
>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT INDOOR
GATHERINGS THAT ARE ENCOURAGING
VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TEND TO BE
AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF
TRANSMISSION.
THE TWO NOTABLE THINGS ABOUT
THESE GATHERINGS ARE CROWDING,
AND IN SOME CASE, ALCOHOL.
THAT IS WHY WE'RE ASKING YOU TO
KEEP YOUR GROUPS SMALL, TO SPEND
TIME WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND TO
ALWAYS STAY HOME WHEN YOU'RE
SICK.
>> ON THAT NOTE, TOMORROW AT 10
A.M. IS WHEN SOLICITOR-GENERAL
MIKE FARNWORTH WILL ANNOUNCE AN
UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE AND
ENFORCEMENT MEASURES.
>> Lien: THANKS FOR THAT,
TANYA.
>>> TANYA FLETCHER REPORTING FOR
US TONIGHT.
>>> A DAMNING NEW REPORT FROM
THE PROVINCIAL OMBUDSMAN PERSON
IS LAYING BLAME ON THE MINISTRY
OF EDUCATION.
IT SAYS THE MINISTRY SHOULD
APOLOGIZE AFTER MISLEADING
STUDENTS IN THE AND THE PUBLIC
WHEN THOUSANDS OF GRADE 12
STUDENTS WERE ISSUED INCORRECT
TRANSCRIPTS LAST YEAR.
THE 450 PAGE REPORT SAYS THE
GOVERNMENT SHOULD FINANCIALLY
COMPENSATE STUDENTS WHO WERE
AFFECTED BY ITS MISTAKE.
TABULATION ERRORS MADE ON
PROVINCIAL EXAMS IN JUNE 2019
LED TO MORE THAN 18,000 STUDENTS
BEING ISSUED INCORRECT
TRANSCRIPTS, SOME WITH LOWER
MARKS THAN WERE EARNED AND SOME
HIGHER.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE THE
MINISTRY MADE FALLS AND
MISLEADING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE
TRANSCRIPTS DOWNPLAYING WHAT
HAPPENED.
IN A STATEMENT TO CBC THE
MINISTRY SAYS SITS ADDRESSED THE
PROBLEMS TO ENSURE THEY WON'T
HAPPEN AGAIN.
>> Mike: STARTING NEXT WEEK,
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A MASK IF
YOU WANT TO BOARD A B.C. FERRY.
THE NEW POLICY COMES AS
RIDERSHIP IS ON THE UPSWING
FOLLOWED AN UNPRECEDENTED
DIVIDENDS DECLINE IN TRAFFIC.
PREVIOUSLY MASKS WERE ONLY
REQUIRED WHEN PHYSICAL
DISTANCING WASN'T POSSIBLE.
BUT NOW THEY'RE REQUIRED ON
BOARD AND AT ALL FERRY
TERMINALS.
FERRY TRAFFIC WAS DOWN ALMOST
80% SINCE THE OUTSET OF THE
PANDEMIC.
TRAFFIC IS STILL DOWN 35%
COMPARED TO 2019, BUT THE
INCREASED RIDER SHIP MEANS MORE
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
>> ADVANCING WILDFIRE AND HIGH
WINDS IN THE FORECAST HAVE FIRE
OFFICIALS IN THE PENTICTON AREA
WORRY THE SITUATION COULD GO
FROM BAD TO WORSE.
>> THEY'RE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO
MAKE SURE IF AND WHEN FLAMES
PRACTICING THEY KEEP RESIDENTS
SAFE.
>> BRADY STRACHAN IS IN THE
AREA.
WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THE GROUND
NOW?
>> WIND IS THE CRITICAL FACTOR.
IT WAS WIND THAT GREW THE FIRE
FROM A PUFF OF SMOKE TUESDAY TO
WHERE WE ARE NOW, AT AN
ESTIMATED 2,000 HECTARES IN
SIZE.
FIRE OFFICIALS SAY ALTHOUGH THEY
HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON THE
BLAZE, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT
WIND TO COME.
THERE'S WIND GUSTING AT AN
ESTIMATED 70 KILOMETRES AN HOUR
THAT THEY EXPECT TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
THEY SAY THAT COULD PUSH THE
FIRE TOWARDS PENTICTON.
FIRE OFFICIALS SAY ALTHOUGH THEY
CAN PREPARE FOR THE WIND,
THERE'S REALLY -- THEY'RE REALLY
NOT SURE HOW THAT'S GOING TO ALL
PLAY OUT.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU EXAMPLES FROM
THE PAST, AND I WOULD SAY BASED
ON THAT FUEL TYPE, IF WE GET
SOME STRONG WINDS, THEN OUR
LINES WILL BE CHALLENGED.
FOR SURE.
>> Reporter: THAT WORRY IS
FELT TODAY BY RESIDENTS TOO.
WE SPOKE TO ONE HOMEOWNER WHO'S
ANXIOUSLY WATCHING THE FIRE.
HE LIVES RIGHT OUTSIDE THE
EVACUATION ZONE AND HIS HOUSE IS
UNDER AN EVACUATION ALERT.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN IT LIKE THIS.
I'VE LIVED HERE ABOUT FIVE YEARS
AND THIS IS ABOUT AS SCARY AS
I'VE SEEN IT.
A LOT OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
LATELY, AND, YEAH, EARLY IN THE
MORNING, THE BOMBERS START
COMING AND THE HELICOPTERS, AND
WE WERE EVEN HIT IN OUR YARD
WITH WATER FROM ONE OF THE
TANKERS.
IT'S A LITTLE CLOSE TO HOME.
>> BRADY, WE'RE ALL FEELING FOR
THAT HOMEOWNER TONIGHT.
WHAT'S THE REGION DOING TO
PREPARE FOR THE DAYS AND HOURS
AHEAD THEN?
>> Reporter: WELL, THE B.C.
WILDFIRE SERVICE IS THROWING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN AT THIS
FIRE.
THEY HAVE 100 FIREFIGHTERS ON
THE GROUND AND FIREFIGHTERS FROM
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.
THERE'S NINE HELICOPTERS AND AIR
TANKERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY
PUTTING WATER AND FIRE RETARDANT
ON HOTSPOTS BEHIND US.
THEY SAY THAT THERE'S
UNCERTAINTY EXACTLY ABOUT HOW
IT'S ALL GOING TO GO.
BUT FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY CAN
ADJUST TO AN EVOLVING SITUATION.
>> IT'S DIFFICULT TO FORECAST
WEATHER IS GOING TO DO WHAT IS
ANTICIPATED SO WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO RESPOND ACCORDINGLY
BUT SOMETIMES THERE'S TRAVEL
TIME INVOLVED WITH THE
ADJUSTMENT.
>> EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ARE ALSO
TELLING RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN
THE EVACUATION ALERT ZONE, THIS
3700 PROPERTIES THERE.
THEY WANT THEM TO PREPARE FOR
THE WORST, AND TO HAVE ALL OF
THEIR BELONGINGS READY TO GO AT
A MOMENT'S NOTICE, IN CASE THE
FIRE DOES REACH THEIR HOMES.
THEY'RE ALSO ASKS THEM NOW TO
REGISTER WITH EMERGENCY
SERVICES, AND THEY SAY THEY'RE
PREPARED FOR THE WORST HERE,
THEY'RE HOPING IT DOESN'T COME
TO THAT, BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY'RE READY FOR THAT
SCENARIO IF IT DOES COME.
>> THE CBC'S BRADY STRACHAN IN
PENTICTON TONIGHT, THANKS.
>>> LET'S BRING IN METRE JOHANNA
WAGSTAFFE NOW, A SOGGY NIGHT ON
THE SOUTH COAST, YOU'RE TRACKING
THE WILDFIRE SITUATION, AND AS
IT ALWAYS DOES, THE WEATHER
PLAYING AN IMPACT ON THE
SITUATION HERE IN B.C.
>> Johanna: ABSOLUTELY.
THIS SYSTEM THAT'S JUST STARTED
TO BRING THIS SECOND PULSE OF
RAIN TO VANCOUVER, THIS IS THE
ONE THAT'S GOING TO HEAD ACROSS
THE INTERIOR THROUGH THE
OVERNIGHT, BRINGING THOSE MUCH
ANTICIPATED WINDS, POSSIBLE
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND MUCH
NEEDED RAIN.
SO IT IS GOING TO MORPH AS IT
MOVES EASTWARD.
I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE SLIDE
RADAR MAP.
SATELLITE AND RADAR MAP.
THIS FRONT HITTING VANCOUVER
WILL BRING POTENTIAL WIND GUSTS
UP TO 60 KILOMETRE PER HOUR AS
IT PUSHES INLAND.
SO I JUST WANT TO PUT UP THAT
FIRE DANGER MAP.
BASICALLY THE AREAS IN HIGH, IN
ORANGE, CORRESPOND TO THE AREAS
THAT WE'RE SEEING EXTREME FIRE
BEHAVIOUR RIGHT NOW, THAT
INCLUDES THE CHRISTIE MOUNTAIN
FIRE, HOTSPOTS AROUND THE
OKANAGAN AND THE KOOTENAYS WHICH
I WILL TALK ABOUT FROM A MOMENT
AS WELL AS THE PALMER FIRE SOUTH
OF OSOYOOS.
I'VE PUT THE WINDY ICON THERE ON
THE EDGE OF THE FRONT SO YOU CAN
SEE WHERE THE STRONGEST WINDS
WILL BE WHERE, AND PAUSING YOU
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, THAT'S WHEN
WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE THE GUSTS,
UP TO 6-0 TO 70 KILOMETRES PER
HOUR IN THE OKANAGAN.
THEY'LL BE RAMPING UP
MID-MORNING AND THEN DYING DOWN
IN THE EVENING AS THE FRONT
ROLLS THROUGH AND THEY'LL BE
GUSTYEST COMING STRAIGHT IN FROM
THE SOUTH WHICH IS WHY THERE'S
CONCERN FROM THE PALMER FIRE
SOUTH SOUTH OF THE BORDER.
OF COURSE THERE'S UNCERTAINTY
WHEN WE HAVE THE MICROTOPOGRAPHY
THAT WE HAVE, SO WE MAY SEE
SHIFTING AND GUSTIER WINDS IN
SOME AREAS THAN OTHERS.
ALSO WATCHING AS THE SYSTEM
MOVES INTO THE COD ANYWAYS.
I WANT TOO SHOW YOU SOME --
KOOTENAYS.
VIDEO FROM THE DOCK CREEK FIRE,
ANOTHER SITUATION WE'RE WATCHING
CLOSELY, THAT AREA IS NOT
EXPECTED TO GET THE SAME KIND OF
RAINFALL OR WIND GUSTS THAT THE
OKANAGAN IS GETTING.
THIS ONE GREW FROM 400 HECTARES
TO 3,000 HECTARES OVER THE PAST
24 HOURS, AND WE DO HAVE
EVACUATION ALERTS IN PLACE.
FIREFIGHTERS ARE WORKING ON THAT
SCENE, 25 KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST
OF QUESNEL FLATS.
SO AGAIN, ALL IN ALL, A VERY
TOUCH AND GO NEXT 24 HOURS,
ACROSS THE B.C. INTERIOR.
>> Lien: I KNOW LOTS OF PEOPLE
VERY CURIOUS ABOUT THE WILDFIRE
SEASON AHEAD AND JUST THE
WEATHER CHANGES THAT WE'RE
GETTING AND YOU'LL BE BACK WITH
US IN A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LIVE Q
AND A WITH YOU.
>> Johanna: THAT'S RIGHT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY
PLATFORM, TWEET US, SEND US AN
E-MAIL, GIVE US A PHONE CALL, I
WILL BE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS ON
FIRE FORECASTING, THE FIRE
SEASON, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT OVER
THE NEXT 24-48 HOURS, ANYTHING
YOU GOT, LET ME MOE AND I'LL
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IN THE
NEXT 20 MINUTES OR SO.
>> Lien: THANKS, JO.
WE'LL TALK TO YOU IN A LITTLE
BIT.
>> THE OPERATOR OF AN UNLICENCED
DAYCARE WHERE THE CHILD KNOWN AS
BABY MAC IN 2017 HAS BEEN
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH HIS
DEATH.
SHE FACE TWOS COUNTS OF FAILING
TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARIES OF
LIFE AND ONE COUNT OF FRAUD OVE.
A SIMPLE SUIT FILED BY HIS
MOTHER ALLEGES HE WAS DIED AFTER
HE WAS LEFT UNAATTENDED AND
CHOKED ON AN ELECTRICAL CORD.
THE V.P.D. SAYS THE DELAYED
CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE DUE TO THE
TIME DETERMINING WHICH CHARGES
WOULD BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.
>> DIFFERENT CHARGES WERE
INITIALLY PRESENTED, AND YES, IT
DID TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT YOU
KNOW, OUR INVESTIGATORS WERE
VERY CAREFUL AND METICULOUS AND
PERSISTENT, AS THIS IS SUCH --
THIS IS AWFUL.
THIS IS A TRAGEDY.
>> S AD HAS BEEN RELEASED ON
CONDITIONS AND IS SET TO MAKE
HER NEXT APPEARANCE IN
SEPTEMBER.
>> Mike: LAST WEEK A VIOLENT
TAKEDOWN BY VANCOUVER POLICE
PARKED AN INVESTIGATION INTO
WHETHER OFFICERS USED EXCESSIVE
FORCE.
NOW CHARGES HAVE BEEN LAID
AGAINST A MAN AT THE CENTRE OF
THE DRAMATIC ARREST.
OLLIE ALEXANDER SMITH HAS BEEN
CHARGED WITH RESISTING ARREST,
OBSTRUCTING AN OFFICER AND
ATTEMPTING TO STEAL A MOTOR
VEHICLE.
THE 35-YEAR-OLD WAS ON A BIKE
WHEN HE WAS STOPPED BY POLICE
LAST WEEK FOR A BY-LAW
INFRACTION.
WITNESSES FILED COMPLAINTS
AGAINST POLICE ALLEGING THERE
WAS EXCESSIVE FORCE.
SMITH IS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN
COURT AUGUST 26.
>> AND BURNABY R.C.M.P. ARE
ASKING FOR YOUR HELP TONIGHT
IDENTIFYING THE MAN SEEN ON
VIDEO BREAKING INTO A CAR.
WATCH HOW LITTLE TIME IT TAKES
TO GO FROM SNOOPING TO SMASHING.
>> OFFICERS SAY IT HAPPEN IN THE
BRENTWOOD AREA JULY 15 AFTER THE
VICTIM DISCOVERED THEIR VEHICLE
HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO OVERNIGHT.
THEY BELIEVE THE SUSPECT WAS
DRIVING A NEWER MODEL WHITE AUDI
Q5.
BURNABY R.C.M.P. SAY THIS VIDEO
ALSO SERVES AS A REMINDER TO NOT
LEAVE ANY VALUABLES ON DISPLAY
IN YOUR CAR.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE
SUSPECT IS ASKED TO CONTACT
POLICE OR CRIME STOPPERS.
>> Mike: THERE IS STILL NO
PLAN TO REOPEN SCENES IN B.C.
JUST YET, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THE INDUSTRY ISN'T PREPARING AND
PUSHING FOR IT.
>> MICK COUNSEL HAS DETAILS ON
WHAT THE NEW NORMAL AT CASINOS
MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
>> IT'S NOT QUITE THE CASINO
EXPERIENCE YOU MIGHT BE USED TO.
CUSTOMERS SCREENING, FEWER OPEN
SLOT MACHINES, THIS IS WHAT A
TRIP TO THE CASINO IN
SASKATCHEWAN NOW LOOKS LIKE.
>> THE CAPACITY LIMIT AT BOTH
PROPERTIES, WE'VE GOT ONE
ENTRANCE AND ONE EXIT AT BOTH
PROPERTIES.
WE'VE GOT INCREASED CLEANING AND
SANITATION.
>> Reporter: CASINOS WERE SHUT
DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN MARCH
DUE TO COVID-19.
THEY'RE BACK UP AND RUNNING IN
SASKATCHEWAN AS WELL AS ALBERTA
AND QUEBEC.
>> EVERYBODY'S REALLY UP TO DATE
WITH RESPECT TO WHAT NEEDS TOO
HAPPEN, AND TO KEEP EACH OTHER
SAFE AND HEALTHY.
>> YOU CAN EXPECT SOMETHING
SIMILAR WHEN CASINOS REOPEN IN
B.C.
BUT SO FAR NO DATE FOR WHEN THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN.
>> WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
>> Reporter: BURN SAYS THE
SHUTDOWN HAS TAKEN A MAJOR TOLL.
>> NO ONE WORKS INTO THE
BUSINESS PLAN, I'LL BE CLOSED
FOR SIX MONTHS.
>> Reporter: A BIG LOSS IN
REVENUE AND NOT JUST FOR THE
BUSINESSES.
IN 2018 TO 2019 CASINOS
MADE $1.4 BILLION IN INCOME FOR
THE PROVINCE.
OF COURSE THERE'S THE WORKERS
TOO.
>> THEY'VE BEEN HIT VERY HARD
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PERIOD,
ASS HAVE MOST OF THE HOSPITALITY
SECTOR IN B.C.
>> Reporter: MOST OF THE
UNION'S 2800 CASINO WORKERS HAVE
BEEN OFF SINCE MARCH.
THEY'RE RELYING ON THE CANADA
EMERGENCY WAGE SUBSIDY MAKING
745% OF USUAL WAGES.
NOT EVERYONE -- 75%.
NOT EVERYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO
MAKE DO.
>> PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO SEEK OTHER
EMPLOYMENT WHERE THEY CAN.
>> Reporter: IT COULD BE SOME
TIME BEFORE THE DRYING LIGHTS
COME BACK ON.
PROVINCIAL HEALTH OFFICER Dr.
BONNIE HENRY IN MAY SAYS CASINOS
ARE LAST ON B.C.'S REOPENING
PRIORITY LIST.
>> I THINK THAT EVERYBODY CAN
HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE
INDUSTRY IS GOING TO OPEN SAFELY
AND RESPONSIBLY WHEN IT DOES.
>> Reporter: THE B.C. LOTTERY
CORPORATION IS ALREADY COMING UP
WITH A GAME PLAN.
THEY PLAN TO OPEN FEWER SLOT
MACHINES TO MAINTAIN TWO METRES
OF DISTANCE BETWEEN CUSTOMERS.
WHEN THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE,
THEY'LL USE PLEXIGLASS BARRIERS.
PLUS THEY'LL BE REGULARLY
SANITIZING ALL GAMBLING
EQUIPMENT.
AT LEAST THAT'S THE PLAN,
WHENEVER THE GOVERNMENT GIVES
THE GREEN LIGHT.
MICKI COWAN, CBC NEWS,
VANCOUVER.
>> Lien: THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED NEW
MEASURES TO HELP CANADIANS
THROUGH THE COVID-19 CRISIS.
IT IS EXTENDING THE CANADA
EMERGENCY RESPONSE BENEFIT FOR
ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS, AND
REVAMPING EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
SO PEOPLE CAN GET MORE HELP.
>> Mike: BUT AS DAVID COCHRANE
REPORTS, THIS NEW SET OF
BENEFITS COUPLES WITH 
A $37 BILLION PRICE TAG.
>> REOPENING IS HAPPENING,
REHIRING IS TOO.
BUT NOT AT A SPEED OR SCALE FOR
MILLION OF UNEMPLOYED CANADIANS
WHOSE SUPPORT BENEFITS ARE SET
TO RUN OUT AT THE ENDS OF
AUGUST.
>> WE'RE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO
SUPPORT ALL CANADIAN WORKERS AND
LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND.
>> Reporter: SO TODAY ANOTHER
PANDEMIC LIFELINE.
THE CANADA EMERGENCY RESPONSE
BENEFIT WILL BE EXTENDED BY
ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS.
THEN THE COUNTRY WILL TRANSITION
TO A SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.
IT WILL BE EASIER TO QUALIFY
WITH A MINIMUM BENEFIT OF $400 A
WEEK FOR AT LEAST 26 WEEKS.
>> E.I. IS CRITICAL TO OUR
ECONOMY.
CANADIANS RELY ON THIS PROGRAM
TO GET THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES
WHEN THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOBS
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
>> Reporter: SELF-EMPLOYED
WORKERS AND WORKERS NOT ELIGIBLE
FOR E.I. WILL GET SIMILAR
BENEFITS THROUGH A NEW TEMPORARY
PROGRAM.
SO WILL PEOPLE WHO CAN'T WORK
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CARE FOR A
CHILD UNDERSTOOD 12 WHO -- UNDER
12 WHO CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL OR
DAYCARE AND THERE'S TWO WEEKS OF
PAID LEAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO GET
SICK OR HAVE TO ISOLATE.
>> CANADIANS WON'T JUST
TRANSITION FROM ONE BENEFITS
PROGRAM TO ANOTHER.
THEY WILL ALSO SOLICIT TO A NEW
SET OF EXPECTATIONS.
THE CERB PAID PEOPLE TO STAY
HOME, NOT WORK, AND FLATTEN THE
CURVE.
BUT EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
REQUIRES PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR
WORK, AS CANADA TRIES TO RETURN
TO AS CLOSE TO NORMAL AS
POSSIBLE.
DAVID COCHRANE, CBC NEWS,
OTTAWA.
>> OKAY, ALL WEEK WE'VE BEEN
PROFILING THE FINAL FOUR
NEIGHBOURHOODS IN OUR SUMMER
LONG SEARCH FOR THE BEST ONE IN
METRO VANCOUVER.
>> EARLIER THIS WEEK MOUNT
PLEASANT DEFEATED FORT LANGLEY
TO ADVANCE TO THE FINAL, WHICH
START TOMORROW.
>> AND AT MIDNIGHT VOTING CLOSES
BETWEEN PITT MEADOWS AND
RICHMOND'S STEVESTON
NEIGHBOURHOOD WHICH HAS PLENTY
OF HISTORY.
>> STEVESTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ABOUT THE FISH.
EVEN BEFORE IT WAS CALLED
STEVESTON.
>> WHEN THE CANNERIES WERE BUILT
HERE WE WERE DUB SALMONOPOLIS,
THAT'S HOW MUCH FISH WERE HERE
AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
GATHERED IN STEVESTON FOR
THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE US.
>> Reporter: IT'S THE FISH
THAT BROUGHT JAPANESE IMMIGRANTS
TO STEVESTON AND HAS BEEN THE
ONE CONSTANT AS THE NEIGHBOUR
HAS GROWN AND THE ECONOMY
DIVERSIFIED.
>> IT STARTED AS SALMONOPOLIS
AND NOW A QUAINT VILLAGE, BUT
STILLING THE LARGEST FISHING
PORT IN CANADA.
>> STEVESTON AND A HISTORIC
WATERFRONT TOURIST AREA AT THE
SOUTH AND A QUIET SUBURBAN
NEIGHBOURHOOD IN THE NORTH.
>> WHEN I GREW UP THIS WAS ALL
PASTURE LAND AROUND STEVESTON.
IF I HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW
NOW I WOULD WERE BORN A FEW OF
THOSE AIRCRAFTS.
>> HIS FATHER WAS EXPELLED FROM
STEVESTON DURING WORLD WAR II.
HIS FAMILY MOVED BACK WHEN HE
WAS YOUNG AND HE SPENT COUNTLESS
OR HIS HERSELF RAISING AWARENESS
OF STEVESTON'S PASS INCLUDING
ORGANIZING A MEMORIAL TO THOSE
ONCE REMOVED.
>> THE MULTICULTURAL POLICY IN
CANADA SAYS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR
CULTURE, TRADITION, LANGUAGE AND
STILL SOMEBODY PART OF CANADA.
I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT
WE'VE DONE IN STEVESTON.
>> Reporter: NOT TO SAY THERE
HAVEN'T BEEN FIGHTS AS STEVESTON
HAS GROWN.
>> IT'S ALL FOR THE SAME
PURPOSE, TO MAKE THIS
COMMUNITY -- KEEP STEVESTON THE
WAY IT IS, PRESERVE THE HERITAGE
FEEL BUT ALSO MAKE IT A MODERN
GROWING COMMUNITY FOR NEW
FAMILIES.
>> Reporter: ADD IT UP AND THE
REASONS WERE STEVESTON IS SO
BELOVED IS ANYTHING BUT FISHY.
JUSTIN McELROY, CBC NEWS,
RICHMOND.
>> THAT'S A GOOD --
>> JUST CHECKING WITH THE CBC
BEST NEIGHBOURHOODS VOTING
DESK...
>> STEVESTON LEADING PITT
MEADOWS WITH 56% OF THE VOTE TO
44%.
WHICH, ACCORDING TO MY MATH,
ADDS UP TO 100%.
56-44, VOTING CONTINUES UNTIL
MIDNIGHT.
>> THAT'S A GOOD MATCHUP, THOSE
TWO.
BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, PITT MEADOWS
WAS UP AGAINST DEEP COVE, YOUR
FAVOURED NEIGHBOURHOOD.
>> YEAH, I GUESS PITT MEADOWS IS
GOING TO HAVE TO ENCOURAGE SOME
FOREIGN VOTING LIKE IT DID IN
THE PREVIOUS ROUND...
ALL THOSE VOTES FROM NORWAY.
>> IT WORKED THAT TIME.
>> I GUESS THAT WAS DEEP COVE
THAT GOT THE VOTES FROM NORWAY.
NEVER MIND.
>> AND SOME VOTES FROM DENMARK
THAT I SAW ON JUSTIN'S TWITTER.
>> Mike: GOOD LUCK TO
EVERYBODY.
>> Lien: YES.
>> CALIFORNIA IS IN THE MIDST OF
TWO CRISES, RAGING WILDFIRES
AMID THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
>> Mike: THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN
FORCED FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR
HOMES AS FAST MOVING FLAMES RIP
THROUGH COMMUNITIES.
>> AS BRIAR STEWART SHOWS US,
YOU THE DUELLING CRISIS HAVE
OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND
SCRAMBLING.
>> EVEN IN A STATE THAT
ROUTINELY SEES DANGEROUS, EVEN
DEADLY WILDFIRES, THE SCALE OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS BEING
CALLED UNPRECEDENTED.
HUNDREDS ARE BURNING ACROSS
CALIFORNIA, IGNITED BY LIGHTNING
STRIKES AS THE STATE IN-ENDURES
A STIFLING HEAT WAVE.
THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO
LEAVE.
>> TIME TO GO!
>> IT WAS TOO HOT TO DRIVE.
>> Reporter: A FEW HAVE STAYED
TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR HOMES
WITH WHATEVER THEY HAVE, HOPING
FOR THE BEST.
>> THIS MORNING THEY CAME IN
ABOUT 4:00 O'CLOCK AND SAID IT'S
TIME TO GO, TIME TO GO, SO WE'RE
JUST GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> Reporter: A HELICOPTER
PILOT DIED ALONG WITH A UTILITY
WORKER WHO WAS HELPING FIRST
RESPONDERRERS.
IN CALIFORNIA'S WINE COUNTRY,
MORE THAN 100 HOMES HAVE BEEN
DESTROYED.
LOCAL FIRE CREWS WARN OF BEING
OVERWHELMED.
>> THIS IS A VERY LARGE FIRE.
IT'S ONE OF MANY, IN THE STATE
OF CALIFORNIA.
AND HONESTLY, OUR RESOURCES ARE
STRETCHED...
VERY FAR.
>> Reporter: CALIFORNIA HAS
ASKED FOR HELP FROM OTHER
STATES, NORMALLY MORE THAN
10,000 PRISON INMATES ARE ON
HAND TO HELP FIRE CREWS, BUT
THIS YEAR LESS THAN HALF ARE
AVAILABLE, BECAUSE OF COVID-19
AND QUARANTINE ORDERS.
>> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS
WORK WITH LOCAL HOTELS --
>> Reporter: THE PANDEMIC IS
ALSO AFFECTING HOW EVACUATION
CENTRES ARE BEING MANAGED.
>> WE KNOW WE CAN'T PUT 500
PEOPLE INTO A HIGH SCHOOL GYM.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE GOING THROUGH WHAT THE
C.D.C. TELLS US.
>> Reporter: EVEN THOSE NOT IN
THE FIRE'S PATH HAVE BEEN
SUFFERING THROUGH EXTREME HEAT
AND POWER BLACKOUTS, ALL THE
SMOKE HAS LED TO AIR QUALITY
WARNING THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE
STATE, AND CREWS BATTLING THE
FIRES WON'T GET MUCH HELP FROM
THE WEATHER BECAUSE MORE HOT AND
DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN
THE DAYS AHEAD.
BRIAR STEWART, CBC NEWS,
VANCOUVER.
>> AND AS WE JUST SAW,
CALIFORNIA IN THE MIDDLE OF A
BIG WILDFIRE SEASON, A BIG
BATTLE DOWN THERE, AND OF COURSE
WE HERE IN B.C. ALSO FIGHTING
OUR OWN FIRES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
NOW, BACK WITH US AGAIN TO
ANSWER YOUR WILDFIRE AND
WEATHER-RELATED QUESTIONS IS CBC
METEOROLOGIST JOHANNA WAGSTAFFE,
SO, JO, WE ALREADY HAVE A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS, BUT IF ANYBODY
ELSE HAS QUESTIONS DROP THEM
INTO THE COMMENTS IN OUR
FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM, WE HAVE A
MODERATOR ONLINE, SO ASK AWAY
AND WE'LL POSE THOSE QUESTIONS
TO JOHANNA WHO IS STANDING ON A
VERY WET PATIO.
>> YOU'LL HAVE TO WATCH THE
RAINDROPS.
>> TAKE A LOOK AT THE FIRST
QUESTION, SO DAVID ON INSTAGRAM
ASKS:
HAS THIS BEEN AN UNUSUAL SUMMER?
>>> NORMALLY, JO, WE SEE OUR
FIRE SEASON STARTING EARLIER AND
THIS YEAR IS QUITE LATE, AND
OBVIOUSLY WE'RE SEEING THE
IMPACT RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, WE STARTED OFF
WITH ACTUALLY A VERY WET SPRING,
WHICH TRADITIONALLY MEANS A
LOWER RISK OF AN ACTIVE WILDFIRE
SEASON.
WE SAW ABOUT 140% OF OUR NORMAL
PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE
PROVINCE IN JUNE, AND IT WAS
SORT OF A HIT-AND-MISS START TO
JULY AS FIRE RESEARCHERS ARE
FOCUSING THEIR WORK ON IT, WHAT
DOES IT MEAN FOR FIRE SEASON AND
DOES IT HAVE AS BIG AN IMPACT AS
IT USED TOO, BECAUSE IT ONLY
TAKES A COUPLE OF HEAT WAVES AND
A COUPLE OF DRY WEEKS AND IT
DRIES THE FUEL RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU REMEMBER TO RECORD YEARS,
2017 AND '18, WE ALSO HAD WET
SPRINGS AND THAT ENDED UP CAUSED
A LOT MORE GROWTH THAT THEN
DRIED OUT.
BUT AS YOU LOOK AT THE WILDFIRE
PICTURES OF THE FIRES BURNING IN
THE INTERIOR RIGHT NOW, NOTE THE
KIND OF FUEL THEY'RE BURNING.
IT IS QUITE GREEN ACROSS MUCH OF
THE B.C. INTERIOR, SO WE'RE NOT
SEEING A MASSIVE FUEL BURN BUT
AGAIN, JUST A COUPLE OF DRY
WEEKS AND THINGS HAVE TURNED
TINDER DRY.
THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A WET
SPRING AND AN EASIER WILDFIRE
SEASON IS CHANGING WITH CLIMATE
CHANGE, SO IT'S SOMETHING,
AGAIN, THAT FIRE FORECASTERS ARE
GOING TO BE TURNING THEIR
RESEARCH ON IN THE FUTURE, MIKE
AND LIEN.
>> Mike: I THINK THAT ANSWERS
A QUESTION FROM TONY WHO WAS
ASKING HOW DRY OUR FORESTS ARE
RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THAT'S BEEN ANSWERED FOR
CERTAIN.
SO, JO, IS THE OTHER NIGHT ON
THE SOUTH COAST WE SAW THAT RARE
HEAT LIGHTNING STORM.
HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN AND HOW
OFTEN DO WE SEE THOSE HERE IN
B.C.?
>> WE REALLY DON'T GET A LOT OF
THUNDERSTORMS COMPARED TO OTHER
PARTS OF CANADA.
IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, AND
THAT'S BECAUSE OUR OCEAN, THE
PACIFIC, IS SO COOL, SO WE DON'T
GET THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT,
THE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE, IN
THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE DO ACROSS
OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,
BECAUSE THE OCEAN AND THE AIR
ABOVE IT ARE SORT OF MORE CLOSER
TOGETHER IN TEMPERATURE THAN
OTHER PARTS AND THAT DIFFERENCE
IS WHAT FUELS THUNDERSTORMS IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
BUT THE BIG SHOW WE GOT DOES
HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE.
IT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE, AND IF
YOU'RE WATCHING AND SENT SOME OF
THESE VIDEOS AND PICTURES, THEY
WERE JUST AMAZING.
WE SAW THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENT
BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH COOLER IN
THE UPPER LEVELS OF OUR
ATMOSPHERE, WE SAW A COUPLE OF
IMPRESSIVE STORM LINES TRACK IN
FROM THE WEST THAT MANAGED TO
SURVIVE OVER THE OCEAN.
SO WHILE RARE THEY DO HAPPEN,
THEY'RE MUCH MORE COMMON IN THE
INTERIOR, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR
BIG REASONS FOR FIRE STARTS HERE
IN B.C.
>> ALL RIGHT, JO, IN SAN
FRANCISCO WE KNOW THEY HAD SOME
OF THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE
WORLD JUST YESTERDAY.
WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF IT
HERE.
HOW DOES THIS AFFECT COVID-19
IMPACTS?
>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING
QUESTION, AND I'M GOING TO LINK
TO A NEW PAPER ON MY TWITTER,
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY NEW AIR
OF RESEARCH BUT A NEW PAPER WAS
JUST PUBLISHED A MONTH AGO
CONNECTING POOR AIR QUALITY AND
WILDFIRE AIR QUALITY TO COVID.
THE RESEARCHERS DID FIND A LINK
IN POSSIBLY SUPPRESSING
IMMUNOSYSTEMS BECAUSE OF THE
SMOKE AND THAT POSSIBLY LEADING
TO AN INCREASED RISK OF COVID
IMPACT.
I'LL LINK YOU TO THE STUDY BUT
IT'S STING RESEARCHERS BOTH ON
THE SMOKE FORECASTING SIDE AND
ON THE HEALTH SIDE ARE LOOKING
AT, ESPECIALLY WITH, YOU KNOW,
PARTS OF CALIFORNIA STILL
LOOKING AT A LONG SEASON AHELD.
>> Mike: LINDA WANTS TOO KNOW,
HOW DO FIRE MARSHALS DETERMINE
THE CAUSE OF EACH WILDFIRE?
GOOD QUESTION.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION,
LINDA.
I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THEIR
PROTOCOL IS.
I KNOW WE HAVE GREAT CONTACTS
TER CENTRES SO WE'LL HAVE TO
POSE THAT TO THEM.
I WAS PART OF AN ENVIRONMENT
CANADA INVESTIGATION TEAM WHERE
WE WOULD GO OUT AFTER STORMS AND
TORNADOES TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE CAUSE OF DAMAGE WAS,
WAS IT A TORNADO, OR STRAIGHT
LINE WINDS.
I WONDER IF THE PROCESS IS
SIMILAR.
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA THE MAJORITY
OF OUR FIRES ARE STARTED BY
LIGHTNING, SO I IMAGINE THEY'RE
LINING UP THE LIGHTNING DETECTOR
DATA THAT WE HAVE WITH THE
HOTSPOTS WE SEE VIA SATELLITE.
INTERESTINGLY, IN CALIFORNIA,
THE CAUSE OF THEIR FIRES IS
MAPLE HUMAN CAUSE -- MAINLY
HUMAN CAUSED, SO GETTING THAT
BIG LIGHTNING STORM OVER THE
WEEKEND WAS AN ANOMALY FOR THEM.
BUT YES, I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF WE
CAN GET MORE DETAILS FROM THE
FIRE CENTRES.
>> OKAY, JO, THAT'S COOL THAT
YOU WENT OUT WITH SOME OF THE
TEAMS TO DETERMINE CAUSE.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FOR YOU TO
DETERMINE IT WAS A TORNADO
CAUSED DAMAGE?
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST
SUMMER TERNSHIP JOB YOU COULD
EVER ASK FOR.
IT WAS THE ONTARIO SUMMER
PREDICTIONS CENTRE.
WE WERE TRACKING THE TON DOSE IN
REAL TIME AND WHEN WE'D GET
REPORTS OF DANIEL WE GO OUT IN
THE FIELD THE NEXT DAY AND WE'D
LOOK FOR -- IT WAS LAICH A
C.V.S. INVESTIGATION.
YOU COULD TELL IT WAS A TORNADO
BECAUSE OF THE TWISTING IN
THINGS LIKE TREES AND ON THE
SIDES OF BUILDINGS, YOU COULD
EVEN SEE THE TWISTING DEBRIS IN
THE GRASS WHERE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS, TREES TEPID TO GET
KNOCKED OVER IN THE SAME
DIRECTION.
I COULD GO BUT YES, VERY COOL
JOB.
>> Mike: THERE ARE PHOTOS AND
VIDEOS CIRCULATING ONLINE ABOUT
THAT RARE FIRE TORNADO THAT
TOUCHED DOWN IN NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
WHAT IS THAT AND HOW DOES IT
FORM?
>> YEAH, IT IS NOT THE NEXT
DISASTER MOVIE STARRING "THE
ROCK".
IT'S TERRIFYING TO HEAR BUT IT
IS A REAL PHENOMENON.
WILDFIRES CAN GET SO INTENSE,
AND WE JUST GET SO MUCH RISING
HOT AIR FROM THESE STORMS THAT
THEY ACTUALLY CREATE THEIR OWN
WEATHER SYSTEMS, SO WE CAN GET
LIGHTNING AND RAIN, IN RARE
CASES THEY CAN RAIN THEMSELVES
OUT, AND WE CAN ALSO GET
TORNADOES.
OVER THE WEEKEND THE NATIONAL
WWW.SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES
ISSUED A RARE FIRE NATO WARNING
IN CALIFORNIA.
WE HAD SOME PACIFIC DENSE AIR
ROLLING DOWN OVER THE MOUNTAINS,
COMBINING WITH HOT POCKETS NEAR
THE GROUND AND THAT ENDED UP
SORT OF TWISTING MOTION INTO
FIRE NATORS THAT WERE SPOTTED
ACROSS THE REGION.
THEY'RE RARE BUT WE'RE SEEING
THEM MORE AND MORE WITH
INCREASING WILDFIRES AROUND THE
WORLD.
>> OKAY, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER
QUESTION, JO, THIS ONE FROM
GERALDINE FROM QUADRA ISLAND.
WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON WILDFIRES
ON WILDLIFE?
I THINK WE ARE HEARD ABOUT THAT
IN AUSTRALIA.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US HERE ON
THE PACIFIC COAST?
>> YEAH, EXCELLENT QUESTION AND
I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP
AUSTRALIA.
IT'S BEEN A WILD YEAR AS IT
SEEMS INCREASINGLY SO EVERY YEAR
FOR WILDFIRES AROUND THE WORLD,
NOT JUST IN B.C. AND CALIFORNIA,
BUT OF COURSE SIBERIA AND
AUSTRALIA.
AND THE IMPACT TO WILDLIFE IS IN
SOME CASES DEVASTATING.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
WILDFIRES ARE A NATURAL PART OF
OUR ECOSYSTEMS, THEY HAVE
HAPPENED FOR, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS
OF YEARS, BUT IT'S THE FACT THAT
WE'RE SEEING THEM HAPPEN AT
INTERFACE LEVELS, SO CLOSER TO
CITIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND
WE'RE NOT MANAGING THEM THE SAME
WAY THAT WE USED TO SO WE'RE
GETTING A LOT OF BRUSH THAT
ISN'T CLEARED.
SO ANIMALS HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO
ADAPT OR WILDLIFE HAS ALWAYS HAD
TO ADAPT BUT BECAUSE EAR SEEING
LARGER FIRES THAT ARE BURNING
LONGER, STARTING EARLIER IN THE
SEASON, AND GROWING BIGGER IN
SIZE, THE IMPACTS,
UNFORTUNATELY, ARE NEGATIVE.
>> Mike: HERE'S A QUESTION
FROM DENNIS AND SANDRA IN THE
COWICHAN VALLEY.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHAT'S
THE WILDFIRE SITUATION ON
VANCOUVER ISLAND?
THEY'VESTEIN A LOT OF WATER
BOMBERS FILLING UP IN SHAWNIGAN
LAKE THERE.
>> YEAH, GREAT QUESTION, AND IN
FACT I THINK I'VE GOT A WILDFIRE
MAP FOR YOU, SEE IF I CAN GET
THAT UP AS I PLAY AROUND WITH MY
GRAPHICS.
THE WILDFIRE SITUATION IN -- ON
THE ISLAND WAS HIGH TO EXTREME
OVER THE PAST -- OVER THE
WEEKEND, WE HAD VERY DRY
CONDITIONS, WE HAD WILDFIRES
NEAR THE COMOX VALLEY.
HOWEVER, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF
SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH OVER THE
PAST 24 HOURS AND LOOK AT FIRE
DANGER NOW.
BACK DOWN TO LOW AND VERY LOW.
SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR FIRE
DANGER TO CREEP UP BUT IT
DOESN'T TAKE MUCH FOR IT TO DROP
AND WE'RE HOPING FOR GOOD RAIN
IN THE INTERIOR TO CITY THAT
DROP LIKE WE SAW ON THE ISLAND.
>> ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT'S IT
FOR NOW, SO I THINK THE KEY
THING TO ASK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF
US ON THE SOUTH COAST, WHAT'S
THE FORECAST GOING TO BE FOR US
IN THE COMING DAYS?
>> YEAH, IN CASE I DIDN'T GET MY
GLASSES WINDSHIELD WIPERS OUT IN
TIME, IT'S DEFINITELY RAINING IN
VANCOUVER.
LET ME TAKE YOU TO THE FORECAST.
WE HAVE A SOGGY FRIDAY IN THE
FORECAST, THIS SYSTEM THAT'S
HITTING US RIGHT NOW ABOUT
CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS,
TAKING YOU THROUGH THAT
FORECAST, RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO
BE HEAVY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING,
I THINK WE MIGHT GET A NICE
BREAK IN THE AFTERNOON WITH SOME
SUNSHINE HERE IN VANCOUVER, BUT
THEN FRIDAY EVENING, MORE
SHOWERS ROLL IN AND SPEAKING OF
THUNDERSTORMS THERE IS A CHANCE
OF SEEING SOME ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS WITH THAT COLD LOW
SITTING ABOVE US FOR THE MORNING
HOURS.
CLEARING OUT HYPED THAT FRONT,
FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, BUT I'M
GOING TO KEEP A MAINLY MIX OF
SUN AND CLOUD IN THERE WITH
SEASONAL TEMPERATURES, LINGERING
THROUGH MONDAY AND THEN LOOKS
LIKE WE GET BACK INTO A SUNNY
HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM FOR TUESDAY
AND BEYOND SO THIS IS GOOD RAIN
AND I CAN TELL YOU STANDING OUT
IN IT, IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF
NICE.
>> Lien: YES, I THINK SLEEPING
HAS BEEN MUCH BETTER, WE'RE
STILL -- WE DON'T NEED THE AIR
CON ALL DAY.
JO, THANKS FOR DOING THAT Q AND
A WITH US TONIGHT.
WE'RE GETTING A COUPLE MORE
QUESTIONS, COMING IN A LITTLE
SLOWER NOW BUT WE MAY DO THIS
AGAIN WITH YOU TOMORROW IF YOU
ARE OPEN TO IT.
WE CAN SEE HOW MANY MORE
QUESTIONS COME IN.
>> AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WILL WATCH THOSE QUESTIONS ON
YOUTUBE AND TWITTER AND I'LL TRY
TO GET TO THEM OVER THE NEXT 24
HOURS IF WE DIDN'T ANSWER THEM
ON THE SHOW.
>> THANKS, JO.
>>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
ONLINE TONIGHT.
OBVIOUSLY NOT ON TELEVISION
BECAUSE OF HOCKEY PREEMPTION AND
I THINK IT'S THE SAME SITUATION
TOMORROW NIGHT.
WE'LL BE BACK ONLINE AT
6:00 O'CLOCK WITH OUR NEWSCAST
TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> WE GET TO DO SOME FUN THINGS,
THOUGH.
OKAY, EVERYBODY TUNE IN TONIGHT
AT 11:00 O'CLOCK AFTER "THE
NATIONAL" AND DAN BURRITT WILL
BE HERE.
WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.
>> Mike: GOOD NIGHT.
