Daily News for August 13, 2026

Today’s Takeaway

Wildfire and drought are becoming the new normal for North American forests

The Tree Frog Forestry News
August 13, 2026
Category: Today's Takeaway

Wildfire and drought are increasingly the new normal for North American forests. In related news: BC’s Forest Minister is under the gun over wildfire crisis; Premier David Eby met with evacuees in Penticton; Oregon’s Grasshopper fire burned six homes; and California’s Timber Fire threatens hundreds of structures near Big Sur. In Forestry news: New Brunswick’s record drought is blamed for balsam fir die-off; BC pushes back on claims of Crown land transfers to First Nations; and Montana Governor highlights link between forestry and forest health.

In Business news: Western Forest Products reported Q2 net income of $10.5M; the US EPA begins clean-up at Cosmo Specialty Fibers; Canada and the US remain apart on tariff deal; BC Wood received $5.2M through Ottawa’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative; and lawmakers worry about the future of the US hardwood industry. Meanwhile, a UBC-developed biodegradable wood foam enters production; and more on the EU’s new waste packing rules.

Finally, US Census puts wood in 96 of every 100 owner-built American homes.

Kelly McCloskey, Tree Frog News Editor

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Business & Politics

Canada, U.S. not yet ready to make tariff deal, Canada unsatisfied with latest U.S. offer: sources

By Darren Major and Kate McKenna
CBC News
August 12, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, United States

As the clock ticks toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariff deadline, Canada and the U.S. aren’t at a point where a tariff deal can be reached — and Canadian officials are not satisfied with the latest U.S. offer, according to two sources with knowledge of the trade talks. According to sources on both sides of the border, the Americans offered a new proposal on Tuesday which would lower some of the sectoral tariffs but not to the degree that the Canadian side would like to see. CBC News is not naming the sources because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Negotiators have been going back and forth in recent weeks in an effort to reach some sort of deal before Aug. 19, which is when Trump has promised a 50 per cent levy on hundreds of Canadian goods in addition to the sectoral tariffs already in place.

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Calls for Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to resign intensify amid wildfire crisis

By Alex Zoltan
The Western Standard
August 12, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada, Canada West

Ravi Parmar

PENTICTON — The Conservative Party of BC, and others, are intensifying calls for Forests Minister Ravi Parmar to resign, citing multiple mill closures that cost hundreds of high-paying jobs and the government’s handling of a destructive wildfire season that has forced more than 21,000 people from their homes. The pressure comes as the Bald Range wildfire near Summerland triggered a widespread evacuations across the South Okanagan. …During a press conference, while addressing criticism of the Eby government’s wildfire management, Parmar dismissed opposition questions with a curt reply: “I don’t have time for the BC Conservatives. If they want to play politics, they can fill their boots.” …Environmental groups have also attacked Parmar from the opposite direction, accusing him of accelerating old-growth logging through BC Timber Sales and making dismissive comments about caribou. …Parmar has given no indication he intends to step down. Premier David Eby has, so far, stood by his minister.

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Premier David Eby’s statement following visit with wildfire evacuees, responders

By The Office of the Premier
Government of British Columbia
August 12, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: Canada West

Premier David Eby’s statement after speaking in Penticton with evacuees, local leaders and emergency personnel responding to wildfires: Today, I met with people whose lives have been turned upside down by these wildfires. I listened to families forced to leave their homes with little warning. I heard from people waiting anxiously for news about whether they have anything left to return to. And I spoke with business owners worried about their employees and their future. I also met with local mayors, First Nations leadership, firefighters, emergency personnel and community organizations helping people through an incredibly difficult time. The message I heard was clear: These have been devastating days, but people are facing them with strength, determination and a deep commitment to supporting their neighbours. To everyone who has been evacuated, who is under alert, who has lost property or who is living with uncertainty right now: know that you are not facing this alone. 

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House Ag chair ‘very concerned’ about hardwood industry’s future, but talks up increased federal usage

By Ben Stanley
RISI Fastmarkets
August 12, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

Glenn Thompson

US Representative Glenn Thompson admits he is “very concerned” about the state of the American hardwood industry but is hopeful that policy tweaks, especially around increased federal usage, can help bolster its future. Rep. Thompson, the powerful chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, opened up about legislative plans to raise the amount of hardwood used in federal buildings. He also spoke about the potential for increased hardwood lumber exports to China. …“If we lose sawmills, we lose our ability to manage forests,” he continued. “[That leads to] a negative impact on rural America that is unacceptable.” …Despite its rapid contraction over recent years, the future of the hardwood industry is one of few issues that has broad bipartisan support in Washington. In 2025… the Solid American Hardwood Tax Credit Act was introduced. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate. Neither has progressed beyond committee debate.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency begins Cosmo Specialty Fibers clean-up

By Jerry Knaak
The Daily World
August 10, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States, US West

COSMOPOLIS, Washington — The US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], in coordination with the Washington State Department of Ecology, began a time-critical chemical removal action at the dormant Cosmo Specialty Fibers pulp mill in Cosmopolis, the EPA announced. The announcement states that for the past two years, the EPA and Department of Ecology have worked closely to assess conditions at the non-operational facility and identify actions needed to reduce potential risks to the community and the environment. More than 750,000 gallons of waste chemicals remain at the site, and the facility has accumulated more than $2 million in environmental fines. …Weyerhaeuser operated the mill until 2006, when production shut down. …In 2011 the mill resumed operation as Cosmo Specialty Fibers. The pulp mill had been in intermittent operation since 2011 and shut down in December 2022. UK-based Charlestown Investments and Richard Bassett acquired Cosmo Specialty Fibers in early 2023 with the intent of restarting the mill.

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Finance & Economics

Western Forest Products reports Q2, 2026 net income of $10.5M

Western Forest Products Inc.
August 13, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: Canada, Canada West

VANCOUVER, BC — Western Forest Products reported their second quarter, 2026 result. Q2, 2026 revenue was $239.6 million, compared to $201.5 million in Q1, 2026, and $289.1 million in the second quarter of 2025. …Adjusted EBITDA of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to $0.5 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter of 2026 included a $2.3 million expense related to share-based compensation due to a 20% increase in the Company’s share price, compared to a $0.3 million expense in the same period last year. Net income was $10.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, as compared to a net loss of $17.4 million for the same period last year. Results in the second quarter of 2026 included a $31.3 million property insurance recovery from our Columbia Vista sawmill. …Both the North American Japanese lumber markets are expected to be relatively stable through most of the third quarter of 2026.

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Census Puts Wood in 96 of Every 100 Owner-Built American Homes

By Jason Ross
Wood Central Australia
August 13, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Americans who act as their own builder put wood framing into 96 per cent of the houses they finished in 2025, up from 93 per cent a year earlier, in a segment where concrete held 2 per cent. That is according to the United States Census Bureau, whose Characteristics of New Housing file, published on 1 July, counts 1,005,000 single-family completions across the year compared with 1,019,000 in 2024. Owner-built houses are a slice of that market rather than the whole of it, and the framing share across every completed American house sits lower. The National Association of Home Builders put that wider figure at 94 per cent for 2024, the most recent year it has analysed, working from the same Census survey. Jing Fu, Director of Forecasting and Analysis at the National Association of Home Builders, counted 959,000 wood-framed single-family completions in 2024, 3 per cent more than the year before, with concrete taking 5 per cent of the market and steel under half a per cent.

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U.S. Inflation Eased Slightly in July

By Fan-Yu Kuo
NAHB Eye on Housing
August 12, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

Led by declines in gasoline and diesel prices, inflation eased for the second consecutive month after reaching a three-year high in May. …Though easing inflation and a cooling labor market reduced pressure for Fed rate hikes, renewed tensions with Iran could keep inflation elevated in coming months, complicating the Fed’s path forward. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 3.4% in July from a year ago, following a 3.5% increase last month, according to the BLS latest report. The “core” CPI, excluding the volatile food and energy components, increased by 2.5% over the past twelve months, following a 2.6% increase in June. The housing shelter index, which makes up a large portion of “core” CPI, rose 3.2% over the year, following a 3.3% increase last month. Meanwhile, the component index for food rose by 3.0%, and the energy component index increased by 14.7%.

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Why Are Lumber Prices Staying Strong Despite Slowing Housing Demand?

ResourceWise Forest Products Blog
August 12, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States

While North American softwood lumber consumption has declined in 2026, prices have remained surprisingly resilient due to constrained supply, reduced production, and persistent structural demand for housing despite ongoing affordability challenges. …On one hand, builders continue to face affordability concerns, elevated mortgage rates, and cautious consumers. On the other hand, lumber prices have generally strengthened throughout 2026, despite year-over-year declines in consumption. Here’s what the latest market indicators are telling us. …The U.S. housing market continues to balance between long-term demand for new homes and short-term economic pressures. …These trends suggest that, while housing demand hasn’t disappeared, the market is adapting to economic realities rather than expanding uniformly. …Although North American lumber consumption has declined year over year, production has also contracted. Reduced output across both the United States and Canada has helped keep supply relatively tight, supporting pricing across many lumber grades.

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Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) reports Q2, 2026 net loss of $33M

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM)
August 4, 2026
Category: Finance & Economics
Region: United States, US East

Rayonier Advanced Materials reported results for its second quarter ended June 27, 2026. Net loss and loss from continuing operations for the quarter ended June 27, 2026 were each $33 million, inclusive of a $13 million non-cash asset impairment. Net loss and loss from continuing operations for the same prior year quarter were $363 million and $366 million, respectively, each inclusive of a $337 million non-cash deferred tax asset write-off. …“I am excited to join RYAM at a pivotal time for the Company,” said Daniel M. Krawczyk, President and CEO. …“Our second-quarter results were ahead of expectations and showed strong sequential improvement, reflecting both the value of our Cellulose Specialties products and the benefits of ongoing operational improvements.

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Wood, Paper & Green Building

BC Wood Specialties Group receives $5.2M through Ottawa’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative

By Matthew Claxton
The Langley Advance Times
August 12, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada, Canada West

Almost $1.9 million is flowing to three Langley companies through Ottawa’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative, Housing and Infrastructure (RTRI) Minister Gregor Robertson announced on Monday. Robertson announced $30.5 million in RTRI funding for a total of 24 businesses and organizations across the province. …It’s a response to the economic damage done by U.S. tariffs, which have hit Canadian lumber, steel, aluminum, autos, and other industries. …The largest amount of money coming to a Langley organization isn’t for an individual company. The B.C. Wood Specialties Group is receiving $5.2 million. The industry organization supports wood manufacturers with market development and export readiness. This investment will flow to local wood product firms to send them to international trade shows to connect with overseas buyers and find new markets. Finding new business opportunities within Canada, as well as in Mexico, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East is a goal of the project.

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UBC-developed ‘wood foam’ enters production as Indigenous-led pilot plant opens in Vancouver

By Lou Bosshart
The University of British Columbia
August 12, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: Canada West

Inside a new facility in Vancouver, wood fibre is transformed into a block of lightweight “wood foam.” Dr. Feng Jiang first developed the material in his laboratory at the University of British Columbia. For Reg Ogen, president and CEO of Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (YLP) and a leader of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, it signals a shift in the Canadian bioeconomy: a new economic relationship between Indigenous communities and the forests they have stewarded for generations. Millions of tonnes of plastic foam packaging end up in landfills each year, where they can persist for more than 500 years. This new facility aims to change that. By transforming wood waste resulting from logging or forest fires—material that might otherwise be burned or discarded—into biodegradable packaging and insulation, the partnership is turning a costly liability for the forestry sector into a high-value, sustainable product.

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EU waste packaging rules: Why small businesses are worried

By Nik Martin
DW.com
August 12, 2026
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

The EU has introduced new rules targeting packaging waste and “forever chemicals.” Although the changes will be phased in slowly, some small sellers have already paused shipments due to the additional red tape. In a drive to cut waste and improve public health, new European Union rules take effect on Wednesday, banning high levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” in packaging. Under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), any new packaging products entering the market will now have to meet tighter standards if designed to come into contact with food. PFAS have been linked to increased risks of certain cancers and other health conditions. …PFAS are used to make paper and cardboard packaging both grease- and water-resistant. The new rules are in addition to curbs on bisphenol A (BPA) in food-contact materials, which took effect across the EU last month.

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Forestry

Canadian wildfire that forced 20,000 to flee may signal ‘new normal’

Associated Press
August 12, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada

©BCWildfireService

PENTICTON, British Columbia — A wildfire that forced more than 20,000 people from their homes in western Canada moved so quickly that crews had to abandon firefighting to help residents escape, a pace British Columbia’s premier said Wednesday may represent a “new normal.” The Bald Range wildfire erupted Friday near Summerland, a community of about 12,000 in British Columbia’s Okanagan region. By Wednesday, it had grown to about 184 square kilometers (71 square miles) after destroying homes and killing an 80-year-old woman. “There’s an important set of lessons for us to take about how quickly this moved and that this may be our new normal for fire speed,” Premier David Eby said. He said the blaze outpaced wildfire modeling and left some residents with little time to evacuate. Officials have begun damage assessments, but the area remained unsafe Wednesday and there was no timeline for residents to return.

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B.C. may transfer Crown land to Vancouver Island First Nations

By Catherine Urquhart & Amy Judd
Global News
August 11, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada, Canada West

New documents show that more than 300,000 acres of land could be transferred to Vancouver Island First Nations, which are currently finalizing treaties. Approximately 30 parcels of Crown land would be given to five First Nations, which are located from Parksville to Victoria. The list includes Hatley Castle, Royal Roads University, waterfront in Victoria, property next to the legislature, Discovery Island Provincial Park and Sooke Mountain Provincial Park. “This is a betrayal of our core democracy here in British Columbia,” Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay said. …Lawyer Geoffrey Moyse spent decades advising the province on Aboriginal law. “There was no requirement to renegotiate the Douglas Treaties, so I think this was a political decision,” he said. Some concerns state that transferred lands would essentially become private property with no legal requirement to preserve public access or adhere to existing zoning.

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Record drought threatens future of New Brunswick’s balsam firs

By Danielle McCreadie
CBC News
August 13, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: Canada East

Anthony Taylor

Balsam fir trees in New Brunswick are turning red and dying after last summer’s record-breaking drought, raising concerns about the future of the provincial tree. University of New Brunswick forestry researcher Prof. Anthony Taylor says he has been hearing from woodlot owners and seeing the damage firsthand, as the crisp evergreen trees — favoured for Christmas trees — slowly turn red, dry out, and die. He said the pattern is consistent with what he has observed following other hot, dry summers. …Taylor has been studying the effects of climate change on New Brunswick’s forests for years. He says similar balsam fir die-offs followed unusually hot, dry summers in 1986 and 2018. …Taylor said seeing the red trees this year is a “double-edged sword.” While they support his research, he said they are also a visible sign of the negative impact a changing climate is having on New Brunswick’s provincial tree. 

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Gov. Gianforte Highlights Timber Industry, Manufacturing, Forest Management in Western Montana

Montana Governor’s Office
August 12, 2026
Category: Forestry
Region: United States, US West

Greg Gianforte & Jalon Miller

MISSOULA, Montana – Governor Greg Gianforte continued his 56 County Tour, traveling across western Montana to meet with job creators. …Starting off in Lincoln County, Gov. Gianforte toured Meadowlark Log Homes in Libby… a family-owned business that manufactures pre-assembled structural systems for custom log homes with lumber from Lincoln County. …Next, traveling to Sanders County, the governor visited Thompson River Lumber in Thompson Falls… the second-largest employer in Sanders County, Thompson River Lumber harvests from private landowners, the Montana Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs and processes five different species of timber. …In Mineral County, the governor recognized White Horse Forestry for its forest management services and partnerships with agencies to harvest timber, clear land, and provide wildland firefighter training.

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Health & Safety

Consultation on Harassment and Violence in the proposed new Part 4.1 of the OHS Regulation

WorkSafeBC
August 13, 2026
Category: Health & Safety
Region: Canada West

Our Policy, Regulation and Research Department is requesting feedback on sections 4.107 and 4.110–4.118, Harassment and Violence, of the proposed new Part 4.1, Psychological Health and Safety, Harassment and Violence, of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase gives stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback before the proposed amendments are taken to public hearing. View the ​proposed regulatory amendments​ and information on how to provide feedback. Please provide your feedback by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026.

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Forest Fires

Extinguishing hot spots, mop-up duties taking place at being held Bradley Creek wildfire

By Jordy Cunningham
The Kelowna Capital News
August 13, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: Canada West

©AeconGroup

Fire crews continue to extinguish hot spots and perform mop-up duties at the Bradley Creek wildfire. Discovered July 31, the fire continues to be classified as ‘being held’ . It has been held since Saturday. “Within the fire perimeter, smouldering pockets of deep-burning heat produced increased smoke yesterday evening,” said BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) in its latest update… On Thursday, there is a risk of localized thunderstorms in the afternoon into the evening that might produce strong winds, with gusts potentially reaching 60 km/h. …At the Bradley Creek wildfire complex, which covers both the Quilpituk Creek and Bradley Creek wildfires, there is currently an Incident Management Team, 113 firefighters, seven helicopters, 38 pieces of heavy equipment, and 25 structure protection members. The Bradley Creek wildfire remains out of control and covers 2,650.3 hectares. It is one of 109 active wildfires in the province.

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6 homes destroyed as Grasshopper fire mushrooms, burning more than 83,000 acres

By Tarek Anthony
The Oregonian
August 12, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US West

©InciWeb

Four wildfires continue to burn across nearly 85,000 acres in the Mount Hood National Forest, shutting down ski resorts, highways and campgrounds across the mountain. Meanwhile, the Wrights Springs fire burns out of control in southern Oregon and the Big Grass fire became the largest in modern state history Tuesday, scorching nearly 580,000 acres across eastern Oregon and western Idaho. Here are the top three fires to track Wednesday:

  • The Grasshopper fire burning on the southeast side of Mount Hood has grown amid extreme fire conditions. The blaze, now more than 83,000 acres, burned through at least six homes and 15 other structures according to the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office.
  • In southern Oregon, the Wrights Spring fire continues to burn across 52,500 acres and is only 5% contained. Evacuation orders remain in place for large parts of central Klamath County…
  • In Umatilla County, the Hagen fire, now nearly a month old, is still only 11% contained and has burned more than 53,000 acres across the region.

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Big Sur wildfire threatens 350 structures and homes amid rapid growth

SFGate
August 12, 2026
Category: Forest Fires
Region: US West

©bigsurfire.org

The Timber Fire grew to roughly 4,044 acres Wednesday night as crews worked to keep the wildfire from spreading farther south toward homes and Highway 1 in Big Sur, a U.S. Forest Service spokesperson told SFGATE. About 350 structures were threatened and roughly 1,000 firefighters were working the blaze, spokesperson Adrienne Freeman said Wednesday afternoon. The greatest concern remained along the southern and western edges, where the fire was approaching scattered homes near Partington Ridge Road. The fire is 7% contained as of 7:52 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters were trying to secure the southern edge and build a continuous line behind groups of structures, rather than protecting homes individually, as the fire moved downhill. “It’s very, very steep, so that’s very difficult,” Freeman said. “These canyons are very choked with vegetation.”

Additional coverage in The Lookout Santa Cruz: Timber fire eclipses 4,000 acres in Big Sur; containment up to 7%

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