Latest news with #DrydenCreek
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Helicopter video shows Squamish wildfire impact from above
The District of Squamish shared this aerial tour of the Dryden Creek wildfire Friday night. The District of Squamish has shared new video of the Dryden Creek wildfire that broke out Monday, prompting a local state of emergency, evacuation alerts and anxious days for residents of the community. The helicopter tour of the fire area, which the district posted on social media Friday night, shows minimal smoke and fire activity along the steep ridge where the blaze has been burning. In the video, clusters of red trees can be seen where aerial crews dropped fire retardant, while swaths of grey and brown show areas that were burned in the fire. As of Saturday morning, the BC Wildfire Service still classified the fire as 'out of control,' but crews said Friday that they expected to be able to update that status to 'being held' sometime over the weekend. In its most recent update, the district said the fire remained 59.5 hectares in size and 'cool, cloudy conditions' were supporting less intense fire behaviour. A total of 65 BCWS firefighters, five helicopters and one piece of heavy equipment were responding to the blaze Saturday. 'The fire will remain visible, especially at night, as it consumes unburned fuel,' the district's update reads. 'This activity is expected and does not necessarily indicate fire growth or pose a cause for concern.'
CTV News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Helicopter video shows Squamish, B.C. wildfire
Vancouver Watch The District of Squamish shared this aerial tour of the Dryden Creek wildfire Friday night.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Squamish, B.C., reports progress in fire fight, as northeast hopes for rain
Smoke from the Dryden Creek Wildfire, is shown just north of Squamish, B.C., Wednesday, June 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin There's optimism from firefighters and local authorities as crews battle blazes in opposite corners of British Columbia heading into the weekend. The District of Squamish is reporting minimal overnight growth in the Dryden Creek fire that triggered a local state of emergency this week, while the BC Wildfire Service expects rain to help suppress the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the northeast. That fire is the biggest in the province at more than 1,500 square kilometres, and the wildfire service says it has grown significantly since merging with another fire on Sunday. BC Wildfire Service information officer Julia Caranci says in a video update on social media on Thursday that anticipated rain could aid in suppression efforts this weekend. She says she's hopeful the rain will help, although the fire has a large perimeter and it remains to be seen how much the rain affects fire behaviour. The fire looming over Squamish, north of Vancouver, has grown to nearly 60 hectares in size, with the district reporting that crews made 'strong progress' on the southwestern flanks, while aviation crews focused on bucketing the northern edge. The district says in a posting to social media late Thursday that the fire spread on the northern side from 'steep, inoperable terrain into more accessible areas, allowing crews to engage more directly in suppression efforts.' The Squamish fire is among 100 blazes actively burning across the province. There are three wildfires of note, the Pocket Knife Creek, the Kiskatinaw River fire and the Summit Lake fire, all in the northeast where most of the province's fire activity is concentrated. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 13, 2025.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Squamish, B.C., reports progress in fire fight, as northeast hopes for rain
Smoke from the Dryden Creek Wildfire, is shown just north of Squamish, B.C., Wednesday, June 11, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin There's optimism from firefighters and local authorities as crews battle blazes in opposite corners of British Columbia heading into the weekend. The District of Squamish is reporting minimal overnight growth in the Dryden Creek fire that triggered a local state of emergency this week, while the BC Wildfire Service expects rain to help suppress the Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the northeast. That fire is the biggest in the province at more than 1,500 square kilometres, and the wildfire service says it has grown significantly since merging with another fire on Sunday. BC Wildfire Service information officer Julia Caranci says in a video update on social media on Thursday that anticipated rain could aid in suppression efforts this weekend. She says she's hopeful the rain will help, although the fire has a large perimeter and it remains to be seen how much the rain affects fire behaviour. The fire looming over Squamish, north of Vancouver, has grown to nearly 60 hectares in size, with the district reporting that crews made 'strong progress' on the southwestern flanks, while aviation crews focused on bucketing the northern edge. The district says in a posting to social media late Thursday that the fire spread on the northern side from 'steep, inoperable terrain into more accessible areas, allowing crews to engage more directly in suppression efforts.' The Squamish fire is among 100 blazes actively burning across the province. There are three wildfires of note, the Pocket Knife Creek, the Kiskatinaw River fire and the Summit Lake fire, all in the northeast where most of the province's fire activity is concentrated. This report by Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press, was first published June 13, 2025.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Alice Lake Provincial Park evacuated as Squamish wildfire doubles in size
Crews battle the Dryden Creek wildfire, which prompted a local state of emergency in Squamish, B.C., on June 10, 2025. (Credit: Instagram/@JillianABrownPhotography) A wildfire tearing through the forests of Squamish, B.C., has grown to cover more than 50 hectares, resulting in the evacuation of the nearby Alice Lake Provincial Park. In an update just before 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the Squamish District said the increased wind activity over the afternoon had caused growth along the north flank of the blaze, and it was now estimated to measure 54 hectares in size. Following recommendations from the BC Wildfire Service and Squamish Fire Rescue, BC Parks placed the popular hiking and camping spot under evacuation order Wednesday afternoon. 'In the interest of public safety, all visitors should evacuate the park immediately and remain out of the area until further notice,' BC Parks said in an advisory published on its website. According to the district, the Dryden Creek fire had not yet reached the park but its smoke and predicted movement was enough to warrant its closure. 'While the fire is not currently threatening park facilities, ongoing fire growth towards access routes and reduced visibility prompted the recommendation,' it said. The five helicopters tasked with tackling the blaze remained on site throughout Wednesday, filling buckets with water from Alice Lake in a bid to quell the flames. Additional support was provided by air tankers during the afternoon, the district said. Speaking to media on Wednesday afternoon, Marc Simpson, Pemberton wildfire officer for the BC Wildfire Service, said tackling the north flank of the fire would be crews' next challenge and it could prove difficult due to the area's steep, inaccessible cliffs. 'It will be a multi-week process for some of these areas where our crews cannot access,' he said. The district advised motorists travelling through the area to expect reduced visibility on Highway 99 at the north end of the municipality. Residents have been asked to conserve water to support the fire suppression efforts, while the public have been advised to stay clear of the area, especially the hiking trails close to the wildfire. A local state of emergency that was declared on Tuesday remains in place, as does a campfire ban, and an evacuation alert placed for around 200 homes in the Brackendale, Tantalus Road, and Skyridge areas east of Highway 99. The fire, believed to be human-caused, broke out Monday afternoon on the grassy hillside between Dowas Drive and Depot Road. Within just a few hours it had spread to cover five hectares of land, and had grown to 20.2 hectares in size by Wednesday morning.
