Cooler temperatures help B.C. crews gain edge on wildfires
Firefighters are marking success in opposite corners of British Columbia after favourable weather this weekend allowed crews to rein in two prominent fires that have triggered evacuation orders and alerts.
The BC Wildfire Service says crews remain on the scene in Squamish, B.C., to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, which was declared to be no longer out of control on Saturday.
The District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre along with Squamish Fire Rescue have rescinded most evacuation alerts, though one remains in effect for properties on Dryden Road east.
The wildfire service says cooler temperatures this weekend allowed crews to decrease fire behaviour and conditions are forecast to remain cool and damp, with rain expected on Wednesday, as aircrews continue bucketing operations.
The Dryden Creek fire about 60 kilometres north of Vancouver had triggered a local state of emergency in the District of Squamish last week, and was declared as 'being held' on Saturday.
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Fire fight continues as Squamish wildfire now considered held
The wildfire service meanwhile says flames are no longer visible from the Kiskatinaw River fire in the northeast corner of the province, after it was doused with more than 20 millimetres of rain over the weekend.
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But BC Wildfire Service fire behaviour analyst Neal McLoughlin says in a video posted Sunday that 'that doesn't mean the fire isn't active underground' so crews remain on scene.
The blaze is still rated as out of control, and it is one of three wildfires of note in B.C.
'When we receive this amount of rain on a fire, it's going to take several days of hot, dry conditions before our fuel moisture conditions recover and allow the fire to become active on the surface again,' McLoughlin says in the video.
'So this change in weather has really given us the upper hand for the next week to get ahead of fire suppression activities.'
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But, he notes, the northeast has been 'experiencing several years of drought,' so while the rain improves firefighting conditions, the landscape is still receptive to fire.
'Twenty millimetres of rain is wonderful, but we know there's hot spots still within the fire perimeter, and we also know that there's deep underlying drought, and so within a week of drying conditions, we could see active fire on the surface again, and for that reason, we need to maintain active fire suppression over the weeks to come and wrap this fire.'
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Global News
19 hours ago
- Global News
Cooler temperatures help B.C. crews gain edge on wildfires
Firefighters are marking success in opposite corners of British Columbia after favourable weather this weekend allowed crews to rein in two prominent fires that have triggered evacuation orders and alerts. The BC Wildfire Service says crews remain on the scene in Squamish, B.C., to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, which was declared to be no longer out of control on Saturday. The District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre along with Squamish Fire Rescue have rescinded most evacuation alerts, though one remains in effect for properties on Dryden Road east. The wildfire service says cooler temperatures this weekend allowed crews to decrease fire behaviour and conditions are forecast to remain cool and damp, with rain expected on Wednesday, as aircrews continue bucketing operations. The Dryden Creek fire about 60 kilometres north of Vancouver had triggered a local state of emergency in the District of Squamish last week, and was declared as 'being held' on Saturday. Story continues below advertisement 2:04 Fire fight continues as Squamish wildfire now considered held The wildfire service meanwhile says flames are no longer visible from the Kiskatinaw River fire in the northeast corner of the province, after it was doused with more than 20 millimetres of rain over the weekend. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy But BC Wildfire Service fire behaviour analyst Neal McLoughlin says in a video posted Sunday that 'that doesn't mean the fire isn't active underground' so crews remain on scene. The blaze is still rated as out of control, and it is one of three wildfires of note in B.C. 'When we receive this amount of rain on a fire, it's going to take several days of hot, dry conditions before our fuel moisture conditions recover and allow the fire to become active on the surface again,' McLoughlin says in the video. 'So this change in weather has really given us the upper hand for the next week to get ahead of fire suppression activities.' Story continues below advertisement But, he notes, the northeast has been 'experiencing several years of drought,' so while the rain improves firefighting conditions, the landscape is still receptive to fire. 'Twenty millimetres of rain is wonderful, but we know there's hot spots still within the fire perimeter, and we also know that there's deep underlying drought, and so within a week of drying conditions, we could see active fire on the surface again, and for that reason, we need to maintain active fire suppression over the weeks to come and wrap this fire.'
CTV News
20 hours ago
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Weekend rain, cooler conditions allow crews to make progress on B.C. wildfires
A helicopter works on the Dryden Creek wildfire north of Squamish, B.C., on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin Firefighters are marking success in opposite corners of British Columbia after favourable weather this weekend allowed crews to rein in two prominent fires that have triggered evacuation orders and alerts. The BC Wildfire Service says crews remain on the scene in Squamish, B.C., to extinguish hot spots from the Dryden Creek fire, which was declared to be no longer out of control on Saturday. The District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre along with Squamish Fire Rescue have rescinded most evacuation alerts, though one remains in effect for properties on Dryden Road east. The wildfire service says cooler temperatures this weekend allowed crews to decrease fire behaviour and conditions are forecast to remain cool and damp, with rain expected on Wednesday, as aircrews continue bucketing operations. The Dryden Creek fire about 60 kilometres north of Vancouver had triggered a local state of emergency in the District of Squamish last week, and was declared as 'being held' on Saturday. The wildfire service meanwhile says flames are no longer visible from the Kiskatinaw River fire in the northeast corner of the province, after it was doused with more than 20 millimetres of rain over the weekend. But BC Wildfire Service fire behaviour analyst Neal McLoughlin says in a video posted Sunday that 'that doesn't mean the fire isn't active underground' so crews remain on scene. The blaze is still rated as out of control, and it is one of three wildfires of note in B.C. 'When we receive this amount of rain on a fire, it's going to take several days of hot, dry conditions before our fuel moisture conditions recover and allow the fire to become active on the surface again,' McLoughlin says in the video. 'So this change in weather has really given us the upper hand for the next week to get ahead of fire suppression activities.' But, he notes, the northeast has been 'experiencing several years of drought,' so while the rain improves firefighting conditions, the landscape is still receptive to fire. 'Twenty millimetres of rain is wonderful, but we know there's hot spots still within the fire perimeter, and we also know that there's deep underlying drought, and so within a week of drying conditions, we could see active fire on the surface again, and for that reason, we need to maintain active fire suppression over the weeks to come and wrap this fire.' This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 16, 2025.
Global News
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Fire evacuees begin returning home to Manitoba First Nation after cool, wet weather
A First Nation in Manitoba is welcoming residents back, almost three weeks after the community of more than 6,000 people was evacuated due to wildfires. The chief of Pimicikamak Cree Nation says a fire in the area is now largely contained and the community has begun a gradual repatriation of evacuees that includes flights today from Winnipeg. Chief David Monias reposted a video on social media showing a steady rain in the region. He says the community's infrastructure is intact and water systems have been tested by health officials. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Elsewhere in the province, people in Snow Lake, Sherridon and Herb Lake Landing were allowed to return on the weekend. Officials with the City of Flin Flon say those running critical businesses there have begun to re-enter but the general community will have to wait, as there are no health services and limited fire protection is available. Story continues below advertisement More than 21,000 people in Manitoba had to leave their communities due to this year's early and severe wildfire season.
