The following statement is from Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner with the Coroners Service of British Columbia, to mark International Overdose Awareness Day:

B.C.’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been formally extended again, through the end of the day on Sept. 1, 2017. This is the third time the state of emergency has been extended, with previous extensions on July 19 and Aug. 4.

The stories of people taken by the overdose crisis come from every corner of the province. A forestry worker in the North who became addicted to painkillers for a workplace injury and then turned to street drugs. Friends celebrating after a wedding in the Interior. Suburban parents who left behind young children. Middle-aged men who were clean and sober for years.

The BC Coroners Service is investigating a fatal accident that took place this morning, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, in downtown Vancouver.

With weeks of British Columbia’s fire season remaining and no relief from hot, dry conditions in sight, the Province has asked the federal government for additional Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) support through September.

British Columbia’s wildfire-driven provincial state of emergency has been formally extended again, through the end of the day on Aug. 18, 2017. Premier John Horgan announced a previous extension on July 19.

Illicit drug deaths in British Columbia continue to be a serious concern with the number of overdose deaths in the province up 88% compared with the same period in 2016, according to the latest statistics from the BC Coroners Service.

With Okanagan Lake having receded to a safe level as of July 29, the 90-day deadline for residents who may have been impacted by the flooding that began May 4 to apply for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) has been set as Oct. 27, 2017.

The Province of British Columbia, today, formally extended the provincial state of emergency through the end of day August 4, 2017. Premier John Horgan announced on July 19, 2017 that the state of emergency was being extended.

In response to the minister of public safety and solicitor general’s request for Canadian Armed Forces support to assist British Columbia's work on the wildfires, Solicitor General Mike Farnworth expressed his gratitude and thanks for the Forces' agreement to help.