Live Briefing: New Westminster fire follow-up, B.C. campfire ban and Iran-U.S. escalation (2026)

Last checked

Thursday, July 16, 2026, 11:06 p.m. PDT. Environment Canada listed no weather alerts for southeast Metro Vancouver, including Surrey and Langley, at that time. 1

At a glance

Metro Vancouver: A follow-up to the July 10 Pinecrest Manor apartment fire in New Westminster: roughly 100 residents were displaced and 12 cats were still missing in a Thursday report. A volunteer search team planned to use a tracking dog. 2
Wider B.C., outside Metro Vancouver: The Coastal Fire Centre brought back a Category 1 campfire prohibition at noon Thursday across most of its region, with exceptions in parts of the North Island and Sunshine Coast zones. The restriction applies outside municipal boundaries, including most provincial parks, campgrounds, recreation sites and Crown land. 3
World: The Iran-U.S. escalation intensified around the Strait of Hormuz. AP reported new U.S. strikes on bridges in southern Iran; Iranian state media said at least seven people were killed, while larger Iranian casualty totals were not independently verified. 4

Metro Vancouver

New Westminster's Pinecrest Manor fire remains an active recovery story rather than a new emergency tonight. CBC reported that the July 10 blaze displaced roughly 100 residents and left 12 cats missing. One cat had been reunited with its owner; volunteers were organizing searches around the building and hoped to obtain permission to search the property and debris. 2

For the official regional weather check, Environment Canada reported no alerts in effect for southeast Metro Vancouver at 11:06 p.m. PDT. 1

Wider B.C.

The Coastal Fire Centre's renewed campfire prohibition is the main province-wide public-safety change relevant to the Lower Mainland's surrounding region. It started at noon Thursday, covers Category 1 fires in most of the Coastal Fire Centre, and is expected to remain until Oct. 31 unless rescinded earlier. Parts of the North Island and Sunshine Coast fire zones are exempt. 3

The restriction is not a blanket rule for every Metro Vancouver municipality: the report specifies areas outside municipal boundaries, including most provincial parks, campgrounds, recreation sites and Crown land. Check the local authority and current B.C. Wildfire Service guidance before lighting any fire. 3

World

The United States and Iran exchanged another round of attacks Thursday in an escalation that Reuters described as having largely unraveled last month's truce. The U.S. military said it had launched a sixth consecutive night of strikes to degrade Iranian military capabilities. Reuters reported projectiles hit Qeshm Island and areas near Bandar Abbas, while Iranian outlets also reported strikes on bridges and a train station in Bandar Khamir and on Iranshahr Airport. Reuters said it could not immediately verify those latter reports. 5

AP reported that the U.S. campaign had expanded to bridges in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, including Bandar Khamir. Iranian state television said the latest strikes killed at least seven people. Iranian officials also claimed more than 35 deaths and more than 300 injuries since the conflict began, but AP said it could not independently verify those figures. 4

Shipping is the immediate spillover risk. Reuters reported that traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had largely halted again, with Tehran resuming a blockade of the strait and Washington again blockading Iranian ports. The same report said Iran had signalled it could pressure Houthi allies over the Bab al-Mandeb if the U.S. attacked Iranian infrastructure. 5

Watchlist

New Westminster: whether the missing-cat search gains access to the fire site and produces further reunions. 2
B.C.: whether Coastal Fire Centre restrictions expand, change or are rescinded as conditions evolve. 3
Strait of Hormuz: whether further strikes affect ports or shipping, and whether the parties reopen negotiations. 5