Kathy Michaels

A Vernon woman whose volunteer work has spanned nearly five decades is among 13 British Columbians being recognized with the province's Medal of Good Citizenship.

The death of an 11-year-old Alberta boy with autism has sparked a national conversation about how Canada responds when vulnerable children go missing, and an Okanagan advocate is hoping it will lead to faster alerts, better training and changes to search protocols.

The Quilptuk Creek wildfire burning south of La Casa did remains mapped at 565.8 hectares Tuesday morning, and all evacuation orders and alerts issued over the weekend remain in place.

Highway 97 is still closed at the north end of Okanagan Lake due to the Bradley Creek wildfire.

The Quilptuk Creek wildfire burning south of La Casa did remains mapped at 565.8 hectares Tuesday morning, and all evacuation orders and alerts issued over the weekend remain in place.

Two suspicious fires set in an industrial lot in a Kelowna neighbourhood are under investigation, RCMP say.

The discovery of an abandoned white pickup truck near SilverStar Road in Vernon Aug. 3 led police to the body of a 40-year-old man who had been missing for several days.

UPDATE 9:40 a.m. The Quilpituk Creek wildfire has grown to 742 hectares, with crews continuing to battle the blaze as it spreads upslope to the northwest, away from nearby communities, BC Wildfire Service says.

B.C.s entering another period of heightened fire risk, with on-the-ground conditions described as “explosive.”

B.C.s entering another period of heightened fire risk, with on-the-ground conditions described as “explosive.”