Latest news with #BCWildfire
CBC
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Cathedral Park in B.C. Interior on evacuation alert due to wildfire
Cathedral Provincial Park, southwest of Keremeos, B.C., is under an evacuation alert due to an out-of-control wildfire that sparked Friday. The Lower Young Creek wildfire was 50 hectares as of 11:40 a.m. PT on Saturday, and burning in the Ashnola Valley, approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Keremeos and 200 kilometres east of Vancouver. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service, and anyone in Cathedral Park has been told to be ready to leave on short notice if an evacuation order is issued. The park is no stranger to wildfires, having only just reopened about two weeks ago, after a wildfire in 2023 caused major damage to roads and campgrounds. A significant portion of the park is still closed as a result of the damage from the fire. Cassidy Martin, a B.C. Wildfire Service information officer, said that officials received many reports of the fire on Friday through the agency's mobile app. "If people see smoke, they're always encouraged to report ... but there's nothing, no structures or anything, is threatened at this time," Martin told CBC News on Saturday morning. As the province enters one of its hottest stretches of the summer so far, Martin said that residents may see more smoke in the middle portion of the day when temperatures are highest. Martin said that although it's hot, the humidity is high, which has decreased the fire's intensity. Just over 30 firefighters were assigned to the blaze on Saturday, along with helicopters, and some personnel were tasked with cutting down unstable trees in the area to keep crews safe. Martin advised people in the backcountry to be aware of wildfire risks and to keep water and tools on hand if they build a campfire. "Right now we don't have a campfire prohibition with the Kamloops Fire Centre, but we just encourage people to remain incredibly vigilant, and make sure they're putting into place all the safety measures that they can," she said. Park still rebuilding The 2023 Crater Creek wildfire, which started near the B.C.-U.S. border in the middle of August, led to an evacuation order for properties within Cathedral Provincial Park, including the privately-run Cathedral Lakes Lodge near Quiniscoe Lake. That lodge remains closed to this day, as B.C. Parks works to rebuild roads and trails that were wiped out in the blaze two years ago. "The Ashnola River vehicle bridge, which provides access to Lakeview Road, Cathedral Lakes Lodge, and the core area of the park, was destroyed and is under reconstruction," B.C. Parks says on its website. "Work on the bridge is scheduled to be completed by fall 2025." WATCH | Fire-smart property in park was destroyed in 2023: Watch as a wildfire overtakes this fire-smart B.C. property 2 years ago Duration 1:30 Video from the front porch of a cabin near Cathedral Provincial Park shows the Crater Creek advancing and overtaking the property. In addition to roads and trails, which B.C. Parks says will be repaired when equipment is able to access it this summer, the Lake of the Woods and Pyramid campgrounds were also destroyed in the 2023 blaze. B.C. Parks reopened the park in a limited fashion on June 20, with campsites open in a few areas. CBC News reached out to B.C. Parks to ask if anyone is staying at the park this weekend, and whether the wildfire will impact the reconstruction timeline. The agency declined an interview, but said it would provide an update when possible.
Vancouver Sun
17-06-2025
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Evacuation order issued for two properties near Squamish wildfire
An evacuation order has been issued for two properties near a wildfire in Squamish. The B.C. Wildfire Service has classified the Dryden Creek wildfire as being held and said it expects the fire to remain within its current boundaries. However, the District of Squamish issued an evacuation order for two properties located east of the fire Monday afternoon because of the risk posed by trees and rockfall. The order covered 1796 Depot Road and Block D section 23 Township 50 and took effect Monday at 3 p.m. The District of Squamish has issued an #Evacuation Order for 2 properties east of Dryden Creek, due to physical hazards related to #BCWildfire . Anyone in the affected area must leave NOW. More info, addresses & map: @Squamishtown An evacuation alert remains in place for 4000 Highway 99 and properties in the 1700-block Depot Road. An alert issued last week for properties on Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive and the Skyridge subdivision was rescinded Sunday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The fire, which was suspected to be human-caused, started on June 9 and has prompted a police investigation and an appeal for information from Squamish RCMP. B.C. Parks said Alice Lake provincial park will reopen Tuesday with restrictions. The south beach area remains closed to vehicles, but open for hikers and bikers. Some trails are also expected to reopen on Tuesday. The Squamish wildfire is one of 96 blazes burning throughout B.C., most of which are in the province's northeast, where the remaining evacuation alerts related to the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire, northwest of Fort. St. John, were rescinded Monday — although the Peace River Regional District says new orders or alerts may be issued if the situation changes. chchan@ With a file from Canadian Press
Vancouver Sun
10-06-2025
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Evacuation alert issued for out-of-control Squamish wildfire
The District of Squamish has issued an evacuation alert for properties near where an out-of-control wildfire is burning. 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. The District of Squamish has issued an #Evacuation Alert for some properties in the Brackendale area of #Squamish due to the Dryden Creek #BCWildfire . Residents in the area must be ready to leave on short notice. More info: #BC @Squamishtown The evacuation alert applied to properties at the east end of Depot Road, including the campground, and at the end of Tantalus Road. The alert means residents should be prepared to leave at a moment's notice should the situation change, said the district. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Squamish firefighters have been battling the human-caused blaze with assistance from the B.C. Wildfire Service. Crews had 'actively and aggressively attacked the wildfire in Squamish by air and with groundcrews,' said a statement from the District on Monday night. Firefighters efforts stopped overnight and resumed Tuesday morning. The District warned the public against use of drones in the area, which could pose issues for the aerial attack, which include two helicopters and an air tanker. On Monday night, Squamish Fire Rescue had asked people to avoid the area and to avoid stopping on the highway to watch the fire. ⚠️🦺 #BCHwy99 - #BCWildfire reported east of the highway in the #SquamishBC area. Source: chchan@
CBC
09-05-2025
- General
- CBC
What is the difference between a wildfire and a forest fire?
B.C.'s wildfire agency is getting ahead of more than just flames. They have taken to social media to tackle growing confusion about the very word "wildfire." Johanna Wagstaffe breaks it down.
