Latest news with #ArmandHurford
CBC
8 hours 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.
CBC
a day ago
- Climate
- CBC
Squamish wildfire grows in size, but officials say conditions improving
Social Sharing A wildfire that has placed more than 200 properties under evacuation alert in the District of Squamish has grown in size, but officials say conditions for fighting the blaze are improving. The Dryden Creek fire, which is burning next to the Sea-to-Sky Highway about 45 kilometres north of Vancouver, grew from 14.4 hectares Tuesday evening to 20.2 hectares Wednesday. But B.C. Wildfire Service officer Marc Simpson said higher humidity should help crews fight the blaze. And, while strong winds were forecast for Wednesday, Squamish Fire Rescue Chief Aaron Foote said they were blowing in their favour. "We're in a better place today than we were," Simpson told a news conference. He added that the terrain around the fire includes steep, inaccessible areas where there may be rolling debris and "oversized rotten trees," which he expects to prolong the crews' work. An evacuation alert in the northeastern corner of the district remains in effect. On Tuesday, the district said about 100 properties were in the alert zone, but on Wednesday it clarified the total to be more than 220 properties, noting that one property may include multiple dwellings. Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said affected residents should be ready to leave on short notice. He also stressed that the alert is only for certain neighbourhoods. "We're safe at this point, and the challenges are very localized," he said. "Things are OK here in Squamish, save for the concern we have in our very north and eastern corner of the community." WATCH | Squamish declares state of local emergency: District of Squamish declares state of local emergency due to wildfire 18 hours ago Duration 2:06 The district declared a state of local emergency Tuesday, noting the danger for the Brackendale, Tantalus Road and Skyridge areas. Hurford said the declaration gives the municipality access to more provincial resources should conditions worsen. He said a Montessori school in the evacuation alert area has closed due to the proximity of the wildfire. The fire is believed to be human-caused, but an exact cause isn't known yet. RCMP are investigating the fire and are asking anyone who was in the area around 4 p.m. on Monday to share information with police. There are 94 active wildfires in B.C., and more than half are classified as out of control.
CBC
2 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.
Global News
2 days ago
- Climate
- Global News
Squamish residents on edge as wildfire continues to burn out of control
A local state of emergency remains in effect in Squamish, B.C., on Wednesday as the Dryden Creek wildfire continues to burn out of control. Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford told Global News there were calmer winds overnight, which was positive, and the fire remains just over 14 hectares in size. 'The local state of emergency gives us the ability to evacuate people,' he told Global News. 'It also gives us the authority to access private property to address the risk to the greater community.' On Tuesday, an evacuation alert was expanded to cover more than 100 properties in the Brackendale area. 'We have not needed to evacuate anyone at this point, but we do have around just over a hundred properties on evacuation alert at this time,' Hurford said. Story continues below advertisement 'So they are ready to go. And I understand some of those folks have decided to go elsewhere, but we haven't evacuated anyone at (this) point.' 5:41 More than 100 Squamish properties now under evacuation alert Hurford said the fire is at the north end of the community and while it is close to homes, the fire remains burning above on the slope and has been burning away from any structures so far. 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 He added that the community has been coming together to help in any way they can. 'Obviously there's concern and people are on edge for any changes, but we've seen the community come together to help protect each other's homes as well as showing support for our first responders and everything from local businesses offering up services and just asking what they can do to help, to folks bringing banners to fire halls or offering baked treats to the crews,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'So it's really been heartwarming to see everybody coming together in a time of crisis or near crisis.' For a look at where wildfires are burning around B.C., check out our wildfire map.
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
District of Squamish declares state of local emergency due to wildfire
The District of Squamish, in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, has declared a state of local emergency due to an active wildfire. The wildfire poses an "existing or imminent threat to people and property" in Brackendale, Tantalus Road and Skyridge, according to the order signed by Mayor Armand Hurford. The state of local emergency will remain in force for 14 days unless the district or the province cancels it.
