Heat wave

EDITORIAL: Extreme weather events are here to stay

It will take planning and management to cope in the coming years

  • Jul 9, 2021
Chilliwack Compassionate Care started a summer fan drive to help seniors living without air conditioning or a way to cool themselves in a heat wave. (Chilliwack Pro-Life)

Chilliwack fan drive to prepare seniors for the next heat wave

Group accepting donations and delivering fans to elderly in need

Chilliwack Compassionate Care started a summer fan drive to help seniors living without air conditioning or a way to cool themselves in a heat wave. (Chilliwack Pro-Life)
A controlled burn at Deka Lake in early July 2021. (BC Wildfire Service)

‘Heat is just relentless’: Meteorologist warns of hot, dry summer ahead for B.C.

Environment Canada isn’t expecting any significant rain until the second half of August

A controlled burn at Deka Lake in early July 2021. (BC Wildfire Service)
Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)

‘Heat is just relentless’: Meteorologist warns of hot, dry summer ahead for B.C.

Environment Canada isn’t expecting any significant rain until the second half of August

Sparks Lake wildfire. (BC Wildfire Service)
Hope resident Theresa McCormick saw firsthand the serious gaps in emergency response on June 28, when someone she knew died while living in a motorhome without power. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)

Recent heat wave proves deadly for man in his 70s in an RV in Hope

Woman who tried to help and rescued his dog thinks we can do better to check on neighbours

Hope resident Theresa McCormick saw firsthand the serious gaps in emergency response on June 28, when someone she knew died while living in a motorhome without power. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)
Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Climate change made B.C., Alberta heat wave 150 times more likely, study concludes

‘Everybody’s really worried about the implications of this event, nobody saw this coming’

Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)

B.C. deaths triple over the past week, to 719, as a result of heat wave

Many of the deaths were among older individuals living alone in private residences

Extreme heat played a factor in an unprecedented amount of B.C. deaths this week, says chief coroner Lisa Lapointe.(Black Press Media files)
People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Persistent pressure from B.C. heat wave to affect rest of summer: meteorologist

Seasonal modelling is predicting higher-than-normal temperatures to persist through August and September

People try to beat the heat at a beach on June 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Paramedics call situation ‘unbearable’ as B.C. heat wave death count hits 486

Union says low pay has led to staff shortages that saw ambulances sitting empty

FILE – A healthcare worker watches as a B.C. Ambulance Service paramedic moves a patient into an ambulance outside the emergency department at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Sunday, April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Western heat shifts in some areas of B.C., territories, but still blazing elsewhere

Relief is still days away for eastern B.C. and the Prairies

Leanne Opuyes uses a spray bottle to mist her face while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Sudden death toll rises to 98 in Vancouver amid scorching heat wave

Two-thirds of the deaths occurred to people 70 years or older, according to Vancouver Police

Dozens of officers have been redeployed in Vancouver to respond to those in medical distress during the heat wave. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island farmers face significant crop losses due to excessive heat

Berry patches suffer extensive damage, but high temperatures a benefit for corn growers

Tom Michell of Michell’s Farm outside Victoria shows damage that heat caused on his raspberry crop. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Police in Burnaby were dispatched to more than 25 sudden deaths Monday, June 28. (Black Press Media files)

Dozens of deaths in Vancouver, Burnaby linked to heat wave as police scramble to keep up

911 operators saw a 55% rise in calls this weekend

Police in Burnaby were dispatched to more than 25 sudden deaths Monday, June 28. (Black Press Media files)
Brian McKinney of Hope Cascades and Canyons Visitor Centre pulls a sheet of cookies out of his vehicle on June 28, 2021, a record breaking day for heat in Hope. (Facebook)

Hot enough to cook an egg, and cookies, downtown Hope

Tourism staff have some fun promoting Hope through fun cooking videos

Brian McKinney of Hope Cascades and Canyons Visitor Centre pulls a sheet of cookies out of his vehicle on June 28, 2021, a record breaking day for heat in Hope. (Facebook)
Relocated animals from the Reptile Room are safe for now in an air-conditioned room provided by Brian Goldstone and Griffin Security. (submitted photos)

Heat wave kills hundreds of animals at Chilliwack’s Reptile Room

People took some animals in and many more are staying in an air conditioned room at Griffin Security

Relocated animals from the Reptile Room are safe for now in an air-conditioned room provided by Brian Goldstone and Griffin Security. (submitted photos)
People sit on rocks while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Lytton, B.C., breaks all-time Canadian max temperature records yet again with 47.9 C

BC Hydro says the province set another all-time summer peak hourly demand record

People sit on rocks while cooling off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. Environment Canada warns the torrid heat wave that has settled over much of Western Canada won’t lift for days, although parts of British Columbia and Yukon could see some relief sooner. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Albert Huynh cools off in the frigid Lynn Creek water as Leanne Opuyes, left, laughs in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. A stifling heat wave throughout much of Western Canada is unusual because of the nighttime temperatures it is bringing, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Heat wave marked by unusually high night time temperatures

Temperatures higher overnight than they would normally be during the day for this time of the year

Albert Huynh cools off in the frigid Lynn Creek water as Leanne Opuyes, left, laughs in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. A stifling heat wave throughout much of Western Canada is unusual because of the nighttime temperatures it is bringing, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A man from Edmonton got himself in hot water by leaving his dog in a hot car while he went swimming in Oliver, B.C. Sunday June 28, 2021. (Government of B.C. photo)

Edmonton man leaves dog in hot truck while taking a dip in Oliver lake

RCMP lured dog into police car with cheese, brought to detachment to cool down and drink water

A man from Edmonton got himself in hot water by leaving his dog in a hot car while he went swimming in Oliver, B.C. Sunday June 28, 2021. (Government of B.C. photo)
Four dogs that were treated at a Nanaimo veterinary hospital died of heat stroke this past weekend, says a veterinary technologist. (Stock photo)

4 dogs in Nanaimo die from heat stroke

Pet owners asked to take care amid record-setting heat wave

Four dogs that were treated at a Nanaimo veterinary hospital died of heat stroke this past weekend, says a veterinary technologist. (Stock photo)
Kaneycia Bush-McLean, a Langley City resident who works as a registered veterinary technician seen here with, with Quila (L) and Koda (R) said pet owners need to understand the hazards of the current heat wave. The clinic she works at had 15 heat stroke cases in one eight-hour shift, 13 fatal. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

‘It breaks my heart:’ heat wave taking a toll on pets, B.C. vet clinic staffer warns

In one shift on Saturday, there were 15 heat cases, 12 fatal

Kaneycia Bush-McLean, a Langley City resident who works as a registered veterinary technician seen here with, with Quila (L) and Koda (R) said pet owners need to understand the hazards of the current heat wave. The clinic she works at had 15 heat stroke cases in one eight-hour shift, 13 fatal. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
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