The World This Hour - The World This Hour for 2025/08/09 at 19:00 EDT

Episode Date: August 9, 2025

The World This Hour for 2025/08/09 at 19:00 EDT

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Find the latest season wherever you get your podcasts. From CBC News, the world this hour. I'm Peter Dock. From a spark to a serious fire in a matter of minutes. Canadian officials say that is the risk this year, already the second worst season on record. CBC reporter Philip Lee Shanock has a look at what's burning and what's in danger. Obviously some great news yesterday as people were able to return home. But it's not all good, says Premier John Hogan. Conditions on the other side of Conception Bay are getting worse.

An evacuation order has now been issued for Burnt Point, Gull Island, and Northern Bay because the active wildfire burning in the area was becoming unpredictably dangerous due to weather conditions. Ground crews that were working on the Kingston Fire have been removed due to safety concerns. Hogan also declared a regional state of emergency for the entire Beta Vaird Peninsula. In New Brunswick, wildfires continue to burn near Miramishie. The province has closed forested crown lands and is asking everyone to stay. out of the woods. Across the country, there are more than 700 fires burning. Most are in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The firefighting system has been maxed out since late May. Philadelphia

Shannock, CBC News, Toronto. In Southern California, the Gifford Wildfire has been burning for more than a week. About 3,600 people are on the front line fighting it. People who live in the area have been asked to stay alert for evacuation orders. George Hansen has packed his things. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop and having to move out. This is the largest wildfire in California this year. In India's northern state of Uttarakund, rescue operations continue after a flash flood hit its remote villages on Tuesday. Authorities have been digging out survivors and recovering bodies from under debris.

Houses were buried under a mixture of mud, pebbles, and rocks. Among the dead are army soldiers, laborers, and local villagers. Many are still missing. In northern Ontario, the Martin Falls First Nation is seeking an injunction. It wants to stop federal and provincial projects in the mineral-rich ring-of-fire area. It's also suing for $300 million in damages incurred when hydroelectric projects were built on their traditional territory in the 1930s and 50s. Bruce Achnie Pinniscombe is the chief of Martin Falls. You know, first-hand of cumulative impacts on what development does to the lands and waters in our traditional territory.

We've seen the species go extinct within our rivers. The whole ecology change led to destruction of our culture and traditional livelihood. The First Nation is leading an environmental assessment of three proposed roads connecting the ring of fire to the provincial highway system. And finally. Welcome to St. John's, Newfoundland, and Labrador for the opening ceremony of the 2025 Canada Games. Canada's national sports competition kicked off in St. John's today. Thousands of athletes from every province and territory will compete. They will also have one eye on the wildfire situation in Newfoundland.

CBC reporter Jessica Singer has more. It's expected to be the largest games in history when it comes to athlete participation. More than 4,000 athletes. These games can be a key stepping stone to the Olympics. Many athletes get their start competing here at the games. Alumni include seven-time Olympic medalist Andre deGrasse, Eugenie Bouchard, and of course, Sydney Crosby. There is a heaviness in the air that you can feel when you step outside in St. John's, and you can smell a bit of smoke.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, says symptoms for smoke inhalation and, of course, include things such a shortness of breath and chest pain. But she says this isn't too much of a concern for athletes right now, given where the air quality index stands. But having said that, the smoke in the air isn't eliminating the excitement that's in the air. That's CBC's Jessica Singer in St. John's. And that is your world this hour. For CBC News, I'm Peter Duck.

Thank you.