Abbotsford news

• Terrace pilot killed in helicopter crash while fighting wildfire in Greece

  08-08-2026 00:29 via abbynews.com
  
  A Danish pilot living in Terrace has been killed in a helicopter crash while fighting a wildfire west of Athens, Greece on Aug. 2, 2026.
  Two helicopters, one piloted by Rune Kyndal, 46, came into contact with each other in midair, European news agencies report.
  Kyndal and a Greek firefighting coordinator were killed when their helicopter crashed. The British pilot of the second helicopter made an emergency landing and he and a Greek coordinator are now in hospital.
  Kyndal had worked as a heli-sk
  
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• 118 properties now on evacuation alert due to Ainslie Creek wildfire

  11-08-2026 05:25 via abbynews.com
  
  A new evacuation alert has been issued by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) due to the Ainslie Creek wildfire.
  The 54,131.78 hectares blaze remains out of control and is anticipated to spread beyond its current perimeter.
  Approximately 118 properties have been put on alert in Electoral Area “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley-South).
  At this time, there is no imminent threat to Merritt or Highway 5. An assessment of the threat between the wildfire’s edge and Highway 8 is on
  
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• Challenging overnight fire behaviour expected on Bald Range blaze in Summerland

  11-08-2026 03:49 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: 10:30 p.m.
  There will be 24-hour coverage responding to the Bald Range wildfire, which includes 63 personnel of firefighters, structural protection crews and apparatus on site for Monday evening.
  Challenging fire behaviour is expected throughout the night, due to westerly downslope winds of up to 25 km/hr.
  During the day, the blaze grew 500 metres to 2 km due to northwest winds.
  According to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS), crews worked to secure and reinforce a guard throughout the Garnet dr
  
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• UPDATE: Several Summerland small businesses affected by Bald Range wildfire

  11-08-2026 03:47 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: 6:44 p.m.
  Some small businesses have been greatly affected by the Bald Range wildfire, in and around the area, especially Summerland.
  While the Regional District of the Okanagan Similkameen has not had access to re-enter the area affected by the blaze as it remains a live wildfire, plans for a rapid damage assessment are underway.
  As well, the RDOS is looking to the next staged or phased process, which includes bringing residents back into Summerland and the surrounding area, said Graham
  
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• B.C. man charged with sexual assault in Ontario

  11-08-2026 02:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A Maple Ridge man has been charged following a sexual assault on July 30 in North Bay, Ontario.
  Nazif Kamenjas, 58, is accused of restraining and sexually assaulting a woman after encouraging her to consume an alcoholic beverage during a brief encounter on the street and following her home.
  Police said the woman was later able to seek help, and was transported to hospital for treatment.She reported the incident to police on July 31.
  Later that same day, Kamenjas was located and arrested without
  
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• Wildfire north of Harrison Mills under control

  11-08-2026 02:16 via abbynews.com
  
  A wildfire close to the Sts’ailes community has been downgraded to under control.According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, the Fleetwood wildfire is unlikely to move beyond its current borders; it is 2.5 hectares in size, north of Harrison Mills. The status was “being held” this morning, which is one step above under control.There are two other active wildfires in the broader Agassiz-Harrison area – the Twin Lakes wildfire near Statlu Creek and the Tretheway Creek fire on t
  
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• B.C.’s deficit ends fiscal year $3.2 billion lower than budget

  11-08-2026 01:17 via abbynews.com
  
  Turns out, B.C. spent $3.2 billion less than budgeted last year — at least when a large tobacco settlement and some delays to expensive projects are factored in.
  After a full accounting of the province’s 2025/26 fiscal year spending, the deficit shrank from the original $10.9 billion shortfall to a more modest $7.7 billion. The total spend for the year was a little more than $94.9 billion.
  While the revision includes a one-time $2.561 billion tobacco settlement added to the books aft
  
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• Man injured in grizzly bear attack near Pemberton

  11-08-2026 01:01 via abbynews.com
  
  B.C. Conservation Officer Service says there is no ongoing threat to other backcountry users after a grizzly bear attack near Pemberton.Conservation officers responded to a report of a grizzly bear attack Sunday evening in the backcountry area of the Rutherford Creek drainage, a Facebook post from the service says.B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the investigation determined the attack was “defensive in nature” and was the result of a “close-range surprise encounter.&rdqu
  
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• VIDEO: B.C. whale watching captain sounds alarm for tangled humpback calf

  11-08-2026 00:42 via abbynews.com
  
  A tangled humpback calf is swimming free thanks to a Victoria whale watching company.
  An Eagle Wing Tours captain first spotted the calf tangled in fishing gear Aug. 6, travelling with its mother, known as Tempest, near the south coast of Vancouver Island.
  After reporting the sighting to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Eagle Wing Tours vessel and its 12 guests stayed on the scene, monitoring the two whales at a distance until a Straitwatch support boat arrived.
  “It’s critical
  
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• Man arrested in Summerland evacuation area as officials ask for patience

  11-08-2026 00:11 via abbynews.com
  
  One man has been arrested by the RCMP within the Summerland evacuation order area, as local officials ask for patience from residents who want to return to their homes.During the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen’s live broadcast on Aug. 10 in response to the Bald Range Wildfire, Summerland’s CAO Graham Statt said the community is still in the response phase for the current emergency.“That means there’s still live wildfire in and around the community,” said
  
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• UPDATE: RCMP kills wrong bear following attack of 3 year old in Lower Mainland

  10-08-2026 23:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A black bear killed by the RCMP following an attack on a three year old in Maple Ridge, was not the right one.
  BC Conservation Officer Service released a statement on Monday, Aug. 10, saying one bear was “dispatched” by the RCMP on site of the attack on Sunday, at a residential propertyin the 12300 block of 240 Street.However, upon completion of the necropsy, the agency said, “the black bear was determined to not be the offending black bear responsible for yesterday’s bea
  
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• RCMP kills wrong bear following attack of 3 year old in Lower Mainland

  10-08-2026 23:30 via abbynews.com
  
  A black bear killed by the RCMP following an attack on a three year old in Maple Ridge, was not the right one.
  BC Conservation Officer Service released a statement on Monday, Aug. 10, saying one bear was “dispatched” by the RCMP on site of the attack on Sunday, at a residential propertyin the 12300 block of 240 Street.However, upon completion of the necropsy, the agency said, “the black bear was determined to not be the offending black bear responsible for yesterday’s bea
  
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• Okanagan RCMP seeking witnesses to ignition of fatal Bald Range wildfire

  10-08-2026 23:11 via abbynews.com
  
  Police are seeking public assistance with their investigation into the cause of the deadly Bald Range Wildfire west of Summerland.
  The Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen Regional RCMP are looking to speak to any witnesses who were in the Princeton-Summerland Road, Bathville Road, Crump Recreation Site and the Trout Creek Recreation Site areas in the afternoon of Aug. 7.Police are looking for any dashcam footage, photos, videos and other information to review.The exact cause of the fire current
  
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• No off-road vehicles allowed on Crown land in parts of wildfire-hit southern B.C.

  10-08-2026 21:45 via abbynews.com
  
  Off-road vehicles are prohibited on Crown land throughout the Southeast, Kamloops and Cariboo fire centres immediately due to wildfires.
  The prohibition is being put into place to protect public safety, according to a press release from the BC Wildfire Service Monday (Aug. 10). It also includes parts of the Coastal Fire Centre.The ban also includes the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District and the Selkirk Natural Resource District.
  “The operation of any off-road vehicle for recreational
  
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• UPDATE: Search continues for missing girl in Cultus Lake

  10-08-2026 21:40 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: The RCMP E Division Underwater Recovery Team has joined the ongoing search for the missing 13-year-old girl at Cultus Lake.
  While authorities search for the teen, Entrance Bay remains closed, with the public asked to avoid the area.
  Upper Fraser Valley RCMP reported that the volume of silt on the lake floor makes it easy for any disturbance in the water to drastically reduce the visibility for the search team.
  Original Story:
  The search is continuing for a girl who has been reported as m
  
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• City of Abbotsford launches It’s Your Vote Abbotsford election initiative

  10-08-2026 21:15 via abbynews.com
  
  The City of Abbotsford has announced the launch of It’s Your Vote Abbotsford, which is a local initiative that they hope will inform, educate and motivate residents to vote in the 2026 local general election on Saturday, Oct. 17.
  Abbotsford Votes buttons and stickers will be available at city hall, Abbotsford Recreation Centre, and Matsqui Recreation Centre and locals are encouraged to post a picture of using the #itsyourvoteabbotsford to share civic pride and their reasons for voting in t
  
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• Metro Vancouver expands Lower Mainland park

  10-08-2026 20:45 via abbynews.com
  
  Kanaka Creek Regional Park is now larger.On Monday, Aug. 10, Metro Vancouver announced that it has added 3.5 hectares of land to the Maple Ridge Park.The expansion is meant to further protect the “ecologically important” creek, and to create opportunities for future trail connections in the park, said the organization, a federation, made up of 21 municipalities, one electoral area, and one treaty First Nation.“For nearly 60 years, Metro Vancouver’s regional parks have pro
  
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• Strap in: Victoria flight cancelled after child refused to wear seatbelt

  10-08-2026 20:30 via abbynews.com
  
  Porter Airlines is apologizing after an outgoing Victoria flight was cancelled due to a child who would not secure their seatbelt.
  According to the Victoria Airport Authority, the Porter flight to Toronto was first delayed and subsequently cancelled after it was unable to depart before YYJ’s scheduled airfield closure on Aug. 6.
  The airline told the Peninsula News Review the aircraft left the terminal and proceeded to the runway for departure before a young child who was standing in their
  
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• Abbotsford school trustee Mike Rauch announces bid for re-election

  10-08-2026 20:08 via abbynews.com
  
  Abbotsford school trustee Mike Rauch has declared his intention to seek re-election in 2026.
  Rauch made the announcement in a press release shared on Friday (Aug. 7) afternoon.
  He was first elected to the position in 2022, which was the first time he had run for office, and finished in fifth place with 8,943 votes.I’m excited to announce that I am seeking re-election as Abbotsford School Trustee in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Read the full announcement and learn more about my
  
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• Agassiz soccer player to represent Canada in Chile camp

  10-08-2026 19:58 via abbynews.com
  
  An Agassiz soccer player is in elite company as he prepares to represent Canada in Chile.Vancouver Whitecaps FC BMO Academy player Oliver Hirang McColl was one of three players recently selected for the U-15 national team camp at the ANFP Federación de Fútbol de Chile facility in Santiago, Chile. This is a joint camp that also includes six ‘Caps players from Canada’s U-16 national team, and both sides are set to take on their Chilean counterparts in friendly matches lat
  
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• Burst pipe forces 218 Abbotsford inmates to relocate

  10-08-2026 19:44 via abbynews.com
  
  Matsqui Institution is looking quite a bit emptier than usual after more than 200 inmates had to be temporarily relocated due to a burst water pipe on the weekend.
  Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) announced that the incident occurred on Aug. 8 at the Abbotsford penitentiary.
  The significant flooding impacted three units within the medium-security institution and forced a total of 218 inmates to be moved out of the facility.
  “The inmates involved were safely transferred, in accordance w
  
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• 1 charged with uttering death threats against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

  10-08-2026 19:22 via abbynews.com
  
  A 51-year-old man from Montréal has been charged in an investigation into death threats against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.Marc Porlier is charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm to a person under section 264.1 of the Criminal Code, the RCMP’s Federal Policing Eastern Region announced Monday (Aug. 10).
  He allegedly made the threatening remarks in an email sent to a senator, “among other individuals,” RCMP said.Police said the investigation wa
  
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• Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland grows to over 15,000 hectares

  10-08-2026 18:57 via abbynews.com
  
  The Bald Range wildfire west of Summerland has grown to over 15,000 hectares.In a Monday morning, Aug. 10 update, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said winds shifted easterly to westerly on Sunday. The shift in winds cleared the air in the northeast corner of the blaze, increasing the fire’s intensity to displaying Rank 4 behaviour, instead of the Rank 2 to 3 behaviour showed earlier in the day.
  BCWS said it is still prioritizing the drainage between Fish Lake and Garnet Valley. There, crews are
  
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• Shifting winds potentially to increase activity on Quilpituk Creek wildfire

  10-08-2026 18:45 via abbynews.com
  
  The Quilpituk Creek wildfire remains out of control, with afternoon winds potentially increasing activity later in the day on Aug. 10.
  The fire remains at an estimated 1,238 hectares in size, unchanged from the previous update by the BC Wildfire Service on Sunday, Aug. 9.
  Heavy smoke from the fire is expected to remain in the area through the day.Controlled burns that were planned to remove 100 hectares of unburnt fuel between the fire perimeter and established control lines on Aug. 9 weren&rsqu
  
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• Shifting winds could increase activity on Quilpituk Creek wildfire

  10-08-2026 18:45 via abbynews.com
  
  The Quilpituk Creek wildfire remains out of control, with afternoon winds potentially increasing activity later in the day on Aug. 10.
  The fire remains at an estimated 1,238 hectares in size, unchanged from the previous update by the BC Wildfire Service on Sunday, Aug. 9.
  Heavy smoke from the fire is expected to remain in the area through the day.Controlled burns that were planned to remove 100 hectares of unburnt fuel between the fire perimeter and established control lines on Aug. 9 weren&rsqu
  
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• Brunswick Complex wildfires grow to over 60,000 hectares combined

  10-08-2026 17:44 via abbynews.com
  
  The Brunswick Complex wildfires have grown to over 60,000 hectares combined.
  Both the 8,755-hectare Brunswick Creek fire and 51,772-hectare Ainslie Creek fire that make up the complex remain out of control, according to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service on Monday morning (Aug. 10).
  Eleven evacuation orders and 13 evacuation alerts are in effect in relation to the fires.
  Due to the Ainslie Creek fire, the Thompson Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order for 57 addresses in th
  
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• Penny Lynn Summers

  10-08-2026 17:30 via abbynews.com
  
  May 26, 1950 – July 8, 2026
  Formerly of Chilliwack and late of Abbotsford, Penny passed away peacefully at the age of 76.
  Beloved wife of the late Brian Summers. Loving mother to Kevin (Fiona) and BJ (Mary). Cherished grandmother to Isaac, Ahnya, and Keira.
  Penny was a devoted sister, sister-in-law, aunt, treasured friend, and loyal supporter to so many whose lives she touched.
  She will be remembered for the laughter, kindness, and memories she shared with family and friends.
  She will be d
  
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• Twin Lakes wildfire near Hemlock Valley grows to 18 hectares

  10-08-2026 16:55 via abbynews.com
  
  The Twin Lakes wildfire west of Hemlock Valley remains out of control and has grown to 18 hectares in size, while the Fleetwood wildfire north of Harrison Mills is now under control.
  The Twin Lakes blaze is approximately 25 km northeast of Stave Falls, located near the Twin Lakes Recreation Site and Statlu Creek. The fire was discovered on Friday (Aug. 7) at approximately 6:30 p.m.
  According to the latest update from BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) on Sunday (Aug. 9), heavy equipment is on site to he
  
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• Crews respond to rubber plant fire near Hwy. 11 in Abbotsford

  10-08-2026 16:35 via abbynews.com
  
  Firefighters are working to extinguish a fire at a rubber plant near Highway 11 in Abbotsford on Monday (Aug. 10).
  According to an air quality alert on social media from the City of Abbotsford, the fire occurred early Monday morning on Industrial Way. Crews continue to work to put out the fire.
  The city said dark smoke remains in the area and some people may smell it as it spreads.
  “People are asked to avoid the area and stay (in) clean air locations indoors to limit exposure if they notic
  
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• UPDATE: ‘Days to weeks’ for Bald Range wildfire evacuees to return home

  10-08-2026 05:15 via abbynews.com
  
  UPDATE: 8:00 p.m.It may take days to weeks for evacuees of the Bald Range wildfire to return home.
  In a livestream from the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS), communications manager Erick Thompson the process of re-entry into evacuated areas will take time.
  He said some areas are still not safe. In other areas, such as Trout Creek in Summerland, where the fire may not have reached, Thompson said other issues potentially remain such as blown-over embers, power outages and water sys
  
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