Emergency Services

B.C.'s provincial state of emergency over wildfires ended Thursday, though officials warned the fire risk remains high.

B.C.'s provincial state of emergency over wildfires ended Thursday, though officials warned the fire risk remains high.

B.C. has extended its provincial state of emergency until Aug. 29 as wildfire risks remain high across the province.

A personal plane hit a little turbulence during its takeoff in Quesnel.

The report states the aircraft experienced a loss of pressurization while performing a medical evacuation flight from Phoenix to Kelowna. Five people were on board the plane, which consisted of both flight crew members along with three passengers.

Summerland expects to downgrade its final evacuation orders Friday, allowing residents of about 80 properties to return to a wildfire-damaged area where electricity may not be fully restored until Wednesday, chief administrative officer Graham Statt said.

Prince George RCMP have confirmed one person died after a Beech King Air 200 made an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard near Highland Drive, about 1.5 kilometres north of North Nechako Road, Thursday afternoon.

About 450 properties in the District of Summerland could be cleared for re-entry Thursday afternoon as officials prepare to downgrade evacuation orders across much of the community.

The theft of critical suppression equipment, including pumps, is hampering crews at the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland, the B.C. Wildfire Service said Wednesday.

The majority of Summerland residents are able to return home after an evacuation order was lifted, but it's still unclear how many homes may have been lost to the Bald Range wildfire.