This will include the East Kootenays region as it aims to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety.

A Category 3 open fire is a fire that burns:

• Material concurrently in 3 or more piles, each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
• Material in one or more piles, each exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width
• One or more windrows each not exceeding 200 metres in length or 15 metres in width
• Stubble or grass over an area exceeding 0.2 hectares

Air curtain burners and cabonizers will also be prohibited during this time.

It does not include Category 1 campfires or Category 2 open fires.

The Southeast Fire Centre is asking anyone who conducted a Category 3 pile burn over the fall or winter to check their burn site is fully extinguished.

If caught disobeying this ban you may face a $1,150 fine, required to pay an administrative penalty of $10,000, or, if convicted in court, fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced for up to one year in jail.

The Category 3 ban in the Southeast Fire Centre will continue until either October 31 or unless lifted earlier.

To report a wildfire call 5555 on a cell phone, dial 1 800 663-5555  or report through the BC Wildfire App.

For more information on the ban visit BC Wildfire Service.

]]> https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/31148/feed/ 0 https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/lainey-wilson-and-duck-tie-the-knot/ https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/lainey-wilson-and-duck-tie-the-knot/#respond Thu, 14 May 2026 20:41:54 +0000 Celine Trimarchi 2026-05-14T20:42:19+00:00 https://cms.socaststrm.com/?scsyn_origin_object=668_57771 Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges are officially married!!

The couple tied the knot on May 10 during a stunning outdoor ceremony at Ruskin Cave in Dickson, Tennessee. Lainey shared photos from the big day on Instagram — and she looked absolutely gorgeous.

View this post on Instagram

Their ceremony took place at the base of a waterfall, surrounded by the natural beauty of the property.

“Duck and I were driving back roads in Tennessee and saw a billboard for The Ruskin Cave. Duck said, ‘You wanna get married there?’ I said, ‘Done deal,’” Wilson shared. “We dropped by, saw the venue and fell in love with the natural beauty of the cave and the simplicity of the property.”

“You could hear the water trickling down and birds singing and we had a nice spring breeze,” she added.

The couple also honored Wilson’s Louisiana roots with Cajun food from the chefs at her Nashville bar, Bell Bottoms Up, along with music from a 12-piece jazz band.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

From Tuesday, May 19, to Friday, May 22, motorists are asked to expect delays as traffic will be down to single-lane alternating through the work zone. 

“Traffic control personnel and signage will be in place to guide vehicles safely through the area,” said the City of Kimberley. “The City thanks residents and motorists for their patience during this essential infrastructure repair.”

Knighton Road will be open to local northbound traffic only heading toward Jennings Avenue.

There will also be no turning in or out of Jennings, and travel from the avenue to Knighton Road will not be allowed. 

Residents can still access the Home Hardware Building Centre throughout the construction period.

Economic development happens through partnerships with local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, schools and training organizations, Indigenous partners, regional organizations, and other levels of government.

The region has seen an increase in businesses registered with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

This is different to the City business license as a CRA registration is the federal record, while a business license shows a business is licensed to operate here in Cranbrook.

From 2020 to 2024, Cranbrook saw five straight years of growth in CRA-registered businesses—rising from 2,191 to a high of 2,441.

That’s 250 more businesses overall (about 11.4% increase).

Even with a small dip in 2025, the longer trend points to a strong and active local business community.

This was during times of the pandemic, challenging wildfire seasons, and broader economic uncertainty.

It all comes down to Cranbrook’s population growing, and continuing to see strong tourism activity and short-term work-related stays throughout the year.

It can also tighten up the availability of commercial space when vacancy is low, which is why planning for additional business space and supporting private investment continues to matter.

Cranbrook’s economic development work has been recognized at both the national and provincial level.

Awards include from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) in 2021, 2022, and 2025, and  named a finalist for EDAC’s President’s Award.

The British Columbia Economic Development Association (BCEDA) recognized Cranbrook with its 2025 Marketing Innovation Award— highlighting the continued impact of our work to support business, attract investment, and help our community grow.

For more information visit cranbrook.ca

]]> https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/economic-growth-development-etcccc/feed/ 0 https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/no-drug-deaths-in-east-kootenay-this-march-says-bc-coroners-service/ https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/no-drug-deaths-in-east-kootenay-this-march-says-bc-coroners-service/#respond Thu, 14 May 2026 18:04:15 +0000 Alyssa Conti 2026-05-14T18:04:23+00:00 https://cms.socaststrm.com/?scsyn_origin_object=2924_31139 New data from the BC Coroners Service says there were no toxic drug-related deaths in East Kootenay in March, following five fatalities in the first couple months of 2026.

Community-specific monthly figures are not available in the report, but the regional breakdown shows three deaths in January and two in February.

West Kootenay-Boundary suffered four in March, bringing the total to 14 fatalities during the first quarter.

A total of 135 lives were lost to suspected drug poisoning across B.C. that month.

Fraser (101) and Vancouver Coastal (107) health authorities saw more than half of all such deaths so far this year.

More details are available online through the BC Coroners website.

This year’s theme is The Power of Nurses to Transform Health.

Nurses play a vital role in the community working in a variety of settings and specialize in multiple areas of nursing, including acute care, administration and community care.

They combine technical expertise, compassionate care and leadership as they improve the health and well-being of individuals in our communities.

In recognition of National Nurses Week, here are some nurses doing exceptional work in the Elk Valley:

Christina Pukalla, Acute Care – Operating Room Patient Coordinator, Elk Valley Hospital – Born and raised in Fernie, Christina left the community to pursue her education before returning home in 2009 to begin her career at the Elk Valley Hospital. Since then, she has gained a broad range of clinical experience, working in medical, surgical, emergency, and maternity care. In 2018, Christina transitioned to the Operating Room, where she has continued to grow her expertise and leadership skills.  Christina is presently completing her Post Anesthesia Care training which will compliment her broad portfolio.

Christina Pukalla (Image supplied by Interior Health)

Vanessa Stamler, Sparwood Emergency Department – For thirty remarkable years, nursing has been far more than a profession to Vanessa – it has been a calling, a purpose, and a deeply meaningful journey.  Over the decades, Vanessa has experienced the privilege of caring for people within the most vulnerable moments of their lives – an experience that has shaped her in ways she could never have imagined.  Vanessa has enjoyed the opportunity to make a real difference, no matter how big or small in people’s lives.  Currently, Vanessa is continuing her emergency nursing practice at the Sparwood Emergency Department.

Vanessa Stamler (Image supplied by Interior Health)

Marni Barlow, Primary Care – Marni has been working as a nurse for the past twenty years, most recently in the Elk Valley. She is fortunate to be working in a Primary Care Nurse position at Rocky Mountain Health Centre where she can combine her nursing knowledge with that of her previous experience working as a dietitian. The Primary Care Nurse role focuses on health promotion, disease prevention and chronic disease management.

Marni Barlow (Image supplied by Interior Health)

]]> https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/elk-valley-nurses-recognized-during-national-nurses-week/feed/ 0 https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/two-dead-in-fatal-rv-fire-near-7-mile-dam-south-of-trail/ https://wild1047.ca/2026/05/14/two-dead-in-fatal-rv-fire-near-7-mile-dam-south-of-trail/#respond Thu, 14 May 2026 15:38:07 +0000 Alyssa Conti 2026-05-14T19:04:34+00:00 https://cms.socaststrm.com/?scsyn_origin_object=2924_31128 (Image Credit: Elk Valley RCMP) Police are now investigating a deadly vehicle fire that claimed the lives of two people in the Kootenay region this week.

On Tuesday, May 12, Kootenay Boundary firefighters, along with Trail and Greater District RCMP, tackled a fully engulfed RV fire at a remote location in the area of 7 Mile Dam, more than two and a half hours southwest of Cranbrook.

First responders did not know if anyone was inside at the time.

Fire crews then put out the blaze and kept it from spreading to the surrounding forest, but an examination of the scene later revealed two individuals dead in the debris.

Mounties have since investigated the scene, and police say the fire was not suspicious and that they have identified no foul play.

The BC Coroners Service has now taken over the investigation.

“This is a deeply tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” said Cpl. Brett Urano, RCMP spokesperson. 

“We also want to acknowledge the efforts of the fire crews who prevented further damage in what could have become a larger wildfire situation.”

The past week has seen warm temperatures due to the predominance of high pressure across BC with low pressure coming off the coast over the province.

This low pressure is expected to bring dropping temperatures and moderate to heavy rainfall through the interior.

Areas with the heaviest forecast rainfall include the mountainous regions around Revelstoke, Golden, Shuswap Lake, Monashee Mountains,Valhallas, Purcells, and extending north to Clearwater and Blue River, with total precipitation amounts from Wednesday through the end of Saturday of 30 to 70+ mm.

Rivers through the region are flowing at high seasonal rates due to heavy snowmelt over the past week.

With less capacity in the rivers, runoff from rainfall is expected to lead to high streamflow today through to Saturday.

Current hydrologic modelling is indicating the potential for streamflow in rivers across the region in the 2-year range, with the potential for some areas to reach the 5-year flow, or higher.

These higher ranges are currently forecast around Revelstoke (Illecillewaet River), Trout Lake (Lardeau River), Nakusp (Kuskanax Creek) and Edgemont (Inonaoklan Creek).

Fast-flowing rivers pose increased risk to safety.

Stay away from rivers and river banks, which can be unstable.

Never drive through floodwaters, as unseen hazards and current can be lifethreatening.

For information on how to prepare for flood hazards, visit www.PreparedBC.ca.

Personally, I don’t think it’s AI — I think it’s just very Luke Bryan. Out of all his songs, this might be the most “Luke Bryan” song yet and that says a lot, LOL. I’d honestly love to know the writing process behind it. Did he just sit down and list everything he loves doing in a day? Which I’m sure lots of guys can agree with him.

Also this is exactly the kind of song people who don’t listen to country music think all country songs sound like. Pros and cons of that for sure, but we know Luke and we love him for it.

But hey, Luke’s just singing about what he loves: fish, hunt, golf, drink!

Now we’re intrigued to hear what the rest of the album sounds like.

Workers have faced obstacles in recent years including mill curtailments and closures, workforce reductions, and ongoing economic uncertainty.

This can contribute to increased stress and feelings of uncertainty manifesting into mental health concerns, such as depression or anxiety.

In response to this growing need, the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) in partnership with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and the BC Municipal Safety Association have introduced ‘Connection to Care’.

It’s a free, anonymous and confidential mental health call-in program available to all forestry workers in BC.

This May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) wanted to recognize the importance of initiatives like this one that prioritize workers’ mental health and wellbeing.

“As someone who has experienced recurring depression, I understand the importance of creating space for open and honest conversations,” said  Jason Fisher, Executive Director, FESBC.

The goal is to provide personalized support to forestry workers covering a range of topics including job uncertainty, family pressures, or simply not feeling like themselves.

Regardless of whether you have company health insurance coverage, access to an Employee and Family Assistance Program, or a dedicated health professional you will be able to access it.

“When workers feel supported, workplaces become safer, families become stronger and communities become more resilient, and sometimes a simple phone call may be all it takes,” said Michele Fry, Communications Director, BCFSC.

For more information, visit www.connectiontocare.ca

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