Thursday, August 13, 2026

📰 News

Merritt’s mayor is asking Ottawa to investigate repeated closures of the Nicola Valley Hospital emergency department. Mike Goetz says another shutdown is expected over August 15 and 16 while Merritt shelters roughly 300 wildfire evacuees and hosts about 150 firefighters. His letter asks the federal health minister to examine the situation and the role of Interior Health, arguing that emergency crews need reliable local care. (Radio NL · CFJC Today)

A former Sa-Hali student represented Canada at the world under-20 track championships. Niah Matonovich, 19, finished ninth in her 1,500-metre heat with a time of 4:21.44. Her international debut capped a freshman season at Simon Fraser University that included an NCAA Division II bronze medal and conference honours as both track athlete and freshman of the year. (CFJC Today)

Experts warn the Interior’s wildfire season could extend into November. Kamloops Fire Rescue says the regional drought code has reached 1,165—nearly twice the level associated with an already bad year—showing how dry deeper fuels remain. Brief rain may slow individual fires, but sustained precipitation would be needed to materially change the season. (CFJC Today)

A house on East Shuswap Road was destroyed by fire Wednesday, with no injuries reported. Fourteen Kamloops firefighters arrived to find the home fully involved and fought it from outside. No one was home, and investigators had not determined the cause. (Castanet)

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🏛️ What Changed

TRU and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology have formalized a new education partnership. Their memorandum of understanding creates a framework for Indigenous-language credentials, TRU programs developed with NVIT leadership and faculty, and other joint initiatives delivered in Merritt, online or through agreed formats. The agreement emphasizes culturally safe practices and respects NVIT’s role as B.C.’s Indigenous public post-secondary institution. (TRU Newsroom)

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🚨 Safety

Crews are working to contain several fingers of the Ainslie Creek fire moving toward Merritt and nearby highways. A successful hand ignition reduced the spotting risk near Highway 8 and Nooaitch, while crews are building guards around three fire fingers near Kingsvale. The fire was about 10 kilometres from Highway 5, with little recent movement on its northern and southeastern flanks. (Castanet)

Bonaparte First Nation issued an evacuation order as the Pear Lake wildfire remained active near Clinton. Wind continues to drive growth where gusts increase, while crews are using planned ignitions and helicopter support to connect containment lines. The TNRD also downgraded eight properties south of 70 Mile House from order to alert; roughly 1,130 addressed properties in Electoral Area E remain under alert. (CFJC Today · Castanet)

Four new spot-sized wildfires were discovered in the North Thompson Wednesday. All are suspected to have been caused by lightning. Crews were responding near Vavenby, northeast of Avola and southwest of Little Fort, while the separate Saskum Lake fire had grown to 442 hectares and remained out of control. (Castanet)

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📅 Events

Find more local listings in the Kamloops Events directory. Check organizer updates before outdoor activities as wildfire and weather conditions can change quickly.

Open Oceans brings crafts and activities to the North Kamloops Library. The free drop-in program is designed for children up to age 12. (TNRL)

The Legal Café explains applications for no-contact orders. The practical, rights-based session for adults takes place in the Kamloops Library’s large meeting room. (TNRL)

Blake Havard plays free country music at 7 p.m. Music in the Park continues at the Riverside Park Rotary Bandshell. (City of Kamloops)

The Kamloops Film Society screens Purple Rain at 7:30 p.m. The Prince film plays at the Paramount Theatre as part of the Summer Camp series. (Kamloops Film Society)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🌦️ A chance of showers and a high near 30°C are forecast Thursday. The latest AQHI reading was 2, in the low-risk range, though a yellow air-quality warning remains active. Friday brings another chance of showers near 29°C before sunshine Saturday around 30°C.

Clearer air can allow fires to become more active. Smoke suppresses some solar heating, so residents near active fires should continue following official alerts even when local air quality improves. (Environment Canada)

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🎮 Daily Game

Box Office Game: identify the movie from its box-office run and a few clues.