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CBC
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
B.C. provincial park evacuated, RCMP appeal for info on Squamish wildfire
The mayor of Squamish, B.C., said he knew it was a stressful time for residents, as an out-of-control wildfire burns in hills above the community where a local state of emergency was declared this week. But Armand Hurford said crews are making good progress and the community about 50 kilometres north of Vancouver is not in immediate danger. "It's alarming language, [but] it's an important tool," he said of the emergency declaration at a briefing on Thursday. "The town is functioning. Kids are going to school, the buses are running on time, the cafés are busy, and this isn't a situation at this time where the town at large is in danger." The Dryden Creek fire was just five hectares in size on Tuesday when the District of Squamish declared the emergency. It had reached 59 hectares by Thursday, nearly tripling in size from the day before when it got within about 40 metres of homes. Aaron Foote, the chief of Squamish Fire Rescue, said at Thursday's briefing that crews had been installing structural protection on homes closest to the wildfire, but the fight had "gone very favourably overnight." He said command of the fire fight would be transferred from his department to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) in the days ahead. The district said the BCWS and Squamish Fire Rescue had recommended the closure of Alice Lake Provincial Park and an evacuation order was issued. In a statement to CBC News, B.C. Parks said staff helped more than 80 camping parties leave the park following the closure. The district said in a social media post late Wednesday that the fire was not actively threatening park facilities but was growing toward access routes and the smoke had resulted in reduced visibility. The district later said visibility had improved, allowing helicopters to begin bucketing Thursday morning. The Squamish Nation said in a post that it had removed all valuable items from the Alice Lake long house as a precautionary measure. The BCWS said the fire is suspected to be human caused, which led to a police investigation and a Squamish RCMP appeal for information. The Mounties said in a news release that they were informed of smoke on the hillside at the end of Tantalus Road on Monday around 5:30 p.m. But they say it is believed to have been started around 4 p.m. that day on a bike trail, so officers are asking anyone with information about the fire to contact police. The Squamish fire is one of about 100 wildfires burning throughout B.C., most of which are in the province's northeast.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Climate
- Toronto Sun
Wildfire threatening Squamish quadruples in size as B.C.'s biggest wildfire spreads
Wildfire season is underway in B.C. amid hot weather, prolonged drought conditions in parts of province VANCOUVER, BC - June 10, 2025 - Fire in Squamish, BC. June 10, 2025. The Dryden Creek fire broke out Monday afternoon east of Highway 99 between Dowad Drive and Depot Road and grew from about half a hectare to five hectares by late Monday. (Arlen Redekop / Postmedia staff photo) Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG A rapidly spreading wildfire threatening Squamish has quadrupled in size, moving closer to the community, while residents remain on evacuation alert and under a heavy blanket of smoke. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, the B.C. Wildfire Service had mapped the Dryden Creek fire at about 20.2 hectares, up from five hectares Tuesday. The fire chief said the fire is within 40 metres of some homes as debris from burning trees falls near properties. Aaron Foote, chief of Squamish Fire Rescue, says debris has been rolling down steep hillsides as local firefighters battle the blaze that's looming over the community, next to the Sea to Sky Highway. The District of Squamish issued a state of local emergency and has asked people to avoid the area and to avoid stopping on the highway to watch the fire. Monday's evacuation alert remains in effect Wednesday and was expanded late Tuesday to go from Depot Road, including the campground, east of Highway 99 to Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision along Dowad Drive. The southern boundary is the Thunderbird Creek waterway. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Firefighters could face challenges with the weather, as the next few days are expected to be windy. Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, expects gusts of up to 30 kilometres an hour but that could go up to 50 km/h. He said the good news is that there should be some slightly cooler weather as the heat wave eases. 'Today we're forecasting 25 C and then after that, it's kind of 20 C to 23 C so it's still warmer than the seasonal average of 17 C, so still warmer than normal, but a couple degrees cooler, so hopefully that will help,' he said Wednesday. Luke also said there's a chance for showers on Thursday night and then a slight chance again on Friday and Saturday. Squamish, B.C.: June 10, 2025 — Smoke from an out of control wildfire could be seen behind properties on Dowad Drive in Squamish on June 9, 2025. The wildfire broke out east of Highway 99 between Dowad Drive and Depot Road Monday afternoon. Photo credit: Marco Tancinco Photo by Photo credit: Marco Tancinco The fire has led to heavy smoke over parts of Squamish, spreading down into Howe Sound. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Howe Sound, warning of poor air quality and reduced visibility. The agency said people with pre-existing health conditions, the elderly, infants, children are especially vulnerable. The human-caused fire ignited on the forested hillside east of Highway 99 between Dowad Drive and Depot Road. The wildfire service says in an update Wednesday that two helicopters are helping battle the Dryden Creek blaze, which is visible from the Sea to Sky Highway and is believed to have been human caused. The Squamish fire is one of more than 93 wildfires burning throughout B.C., most of which are situated in the province's northeast. Fire in Squamish, BC. June 10, 2025. The Dryden Creek fire broke out Monday afternoon east of Highway 99 between Dowad Drive and Depot Road and grew from about half a hectare to five hectares by late Monday. (Arlen Redekop / Postmedia staff photo) Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG B.C.'s biggest wildfire continues to spread B.C.'s largest of the province's major fires in the northeast is continuing to spread after more than doubling in size earlier in the week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to an update Tuesday night from the B.C. Wildfire Service, Pocket Knife Creek blaze, which is the result of two fires merging over the weekend, is now mapped at more than 1,500 square kilometres, up from 1,300 square kilometres earlier in the day. It's believed to have been caused by lightning and has triggered an evacuation order and alert from the Peace River Regional District. The wildfire also resulted in the closure of Highway 97 on Sunday, but the service says in an update that the road had reopened as of 10 p.m. Monday. On Wednesday afternoon, the Peace River Regional District rescinded its evacuation alert for Electoral Area C due to the Sundance Lake wildfire no longer being a threat to life and safety. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The service says more than half the province's fires are currently classified as burning out of control, including the Dryden Creek wildfire that prompted the District of Squamish to issue an evacuation alert for 16 properties in Brackendale The wildfire service says more than three-quarters of the active fires in B.C. are believed to have been caused by lightning, with 22 per cent caused by human activity. More to come … With files from The Canadian Press Read More NHL Celebrity Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Officials give latest details on Squamish wildfire
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford and Squamish Fire Rescue Chief Aaron Foote are due to give an update on the wildfire burning in the north of the municipality, where an evacuation alert is still in effect.
