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Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Squamish is open for business, but wants visitors to act responsibly
Squamish is open for business and to visitors, said officials, even as firefighters continue to battle a wildfire on the steep cliffside north of town. On Friday, the B.C. Wildfire Service said the out-of-control Dryden Creek wildfire — currently mapped at 60 hectares — is expected to be declared 'held' in the next couple of days, thanks to favourable weather conditions and the work of fire crews. But for most Squamish residents life has gone on as normal since the fire erupted east of Highway 99 in a north section of town Monday, triggering a local state of emergency and evacuation alerts for about 200 properties. 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. 'It has been a strange juxtaposition dealing with a fire response but the buses are running on time and kids are taking swimming lessons and there's a lineup at the café,' said Mayor Armand Hurford. Squamish, located on the Sea to Sky Highway about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, used to be a pit stop for visitors making their way to Whistler's ski slopes. The municipality has become a tourist destination in its own right, drawing outdoor enthusiasts including hikers, mountain bikers, windsurfers and rock climbers. Squamish typically sees an influx of traffic and visitors over the weekend, said Hurford, and while the town isn't asking people to stay away, it isn't ready to invite people to come flocking either. He's heard of people wanting to return to closed trails, but said it was not safe to 'push the limits.' 'We want visitors to be mindful of the extensive emergency response that's underway.' Lesley Weekes, executive director of Tourism Squamish, said the tourism bureau has heard anecdotally about visitors concerned about the wildfire, but said that overall, the town is open to tourism. 'We encourage people to keep their plans if they are visiting areas of Squamish that are not affected by the Dryden Creek Wildfire,' said Weekes in an email, noting most businesses are open. 'That said, visitors should stay informed, follow any closures or advisories, and be prepared to recreate responsibly. This helps reduce pressure on emergency services.' At the Executive Suites Hotel and Resort, it's business as usual, said front desk manager Darsham Desai. He said his team has had to field some calls from guests uncertain whether they should make the trip or not. 'I tell them, it's good to come,' said Desai. 'Our location is not affected and we're operating as normal.' Further up the highway in Whistler, Mayor Jack Crompton said his municipality feels a sense of solidarity with Squamish, but has not been directly affected by the wildfire. 'Bus service continues to operate, all local events are continuing, people are continuing to visit Whistler, and it seems busy in the village,' he said. The two municipalities have close ties, he noted, and members of the Whistler Fire Rescue Service are lending a hand to their Squamish counterparts to fight the blaze. Crompton's office encouraged visitors to Whistler to sign up for its emergency notification system, which sends phone or email alerts in case the situation changes. Tourism Squamish said the air quality in most areas of Squamish is good and is monitored by Vancouver Coastal Health. Highway 99 is open but drivers are asked to reduce their speed near the fire zone. Alice Lake provincial park is closed with trail closures in place. Visitors are encouraged to check Drive B.C. for travel updates, respect fire bans and follow local signage and avoid fire-affected areas. Hurford said winds are fanning the wildfire northward, away from homes and onto terrain crews can access from the ground. He's hopeful firefighters have turned a corner in the wildfire battle. 'At this point, it does feel like we're gaining the upper hand,' he said, adding that while the fire remains an 'active situation,' Squamish was never in danger of a 'Lytton-like event,' referring to the catastrophic wildfire that razed the Fraser Canyon town in June 2021. 'The risk is very real for those folks (within the evacuation alert zone), but the community more broadly is not under threat from this fire.' chchan@ With files from The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
BC Wildfire Service expects Squamish fire held soon, as residents celebrate rain
A fire that has been burning out of control as it threatened Squamish, B.C., this week is expected to be declared 'held' in the next couple days, a spokesman with the BC Wildfire Service said Friday. Rory Baldwin told a news briefing that crews expected good progress this weekend thanks to favourable weather, while District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said rain on Thursday night had prompted celebrations on the streets. The blaze north of Vancouver — which triggered a local state of emergency and has been deemed 'out of control' since it was discovered on Monday — was 60 hectares in size, with Hurford attributing an increase to improved mapping. 'It's been a long week,' Hurford told the briefing Friday, while noting that the community that's halfway between Vancouver and Whistler usually sees a lot of traffic and visitors over the weekend. Hurford said he'd heard of people wanting to return to closed trails, but it was not safe to 'push the limits.' 'We want visitors to be mindful of the extensive emergency response that's underway,' he said. Squamish Fire Rescue chief Aaron Foote told the briefing that extra ground crews and another helicopter had arrived to help the fight. The district had earlier said on social media that a Black Hawk helicopter would be helping the aerial fleet bucket the flames. Foote said there had been strong progress at the southern end of the fire and the heavy bucketing was underway in the north. He also noted fire activity had 'decreased substantially' thanks to an increase in humidity. But he said burning trees had dropped overnight, within about 40 metres of homes. More than 200 properties, including multi-family dwellings, were under evacuation alert, he added. Foote said there had been a 'truly incredible' outpouring of support from the community for the local and BC Wildfire Service firefighters. Baldwin said he expected the fire to be declared held 'within the next operational period or the day after that.' The Squamish fire is among about 100 blazes actively burning across the province. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the northeast 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. But BC Wildfire Service information officer Julia Caranci said 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. It is one of three wildfires of note, alongside the Kiskatinaw River fire and the Summit Lake fire, all of which are in the northeast where most of the province's fire activity is concentrated. A situational report posted to the service website on Friday said rain was also forecast for most of northern B.C. this weekend before easing Sunday, and warned of the possibility of slides caused by sudden rainfall on eroded areas. The report noted a 'warming trend' was expected to return to the province on Sunday, which could then stretch into next week and increase fire behaviour. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Province
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Province
Squamish reports progress in fire fight, as northeast B.C. hopes for rain
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said rain on Thursday night had prompted celebrations on the streets. Published Jun 13, 2025 • 2 minute read 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. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG A fire that has been burning out of control as it threatened Squamish this week is expected to be declared 'held' in the next couple days, a spokesman with the B.C. Wildfire Service said Friday. 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. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. 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 Rory Baldwin told a news briefing that crews expected good progress this weekend thanks to favourable weather, while Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said rain on Thursday night had prompted celebrations on the streets. The blaze — which triggered a local state of emergency and has been deemed 'out of control' since it was discovered on Monday — was 60 hectares in size, with Hurford attributing an increase to improved mapping. 'It's been a long week,' Hurford told the briefing Friday, while noting that the community that's halfway between Vancouver and Whistler usually sees a lot of traffic and visitors over the weekend. Hurford said he'd heard of people wanting to return to closed trails, but it was not safe to 'push the limits.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. 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. 'We want visitors to be mindful of the extensive emergency response that's underway,' he said. The Squamish Fire Rescue chief, Aaron Foote, told the briefing that extra groundcrews and another helicopter had arrived to help the fight. The district had earlier said on social media that a Black Hawk helicopter would be helping the aerial fleet drop water on the flames. Foote said there had been strong progress at the southern end of the fire and the heavy bucketing was underway in the north. He also noted fire activity had 'decreased substantially' thanks to an increase in humidity. But he said burning trees had dropped overnight, within about 40 metres of homes. More than 200 properties, including multi-family dwellings, were under evacuation alert, he added. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Foote said there had been a 'truly incredible' outpouring of support from the community for the local and B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters. Baldwin said he expected the fire to be declared held 'within the next operational period or the day after that.' The Squamish fire is among about 100 blazes burning across the province. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the northeast 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. But B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Julia Caranci said in a video update on social media on Thursday that anticipated rain could aid in suppression efforts this weekend. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. It is one of three wildfires of note, alongside the Kiskatinaw River fire and the Summit Lake fire, all of which are in the northeast where most of the province's fire activity is concentrated. A situational report posted to the service website on Friday said rain was also forecast for most of northern B.C. this weekend before easing Sunday, and warned of the possibility of slides caused by sudden rainfall on eroded areas. The report noted a 'warming trend' was expected to return to the province on Sunday, which could then stretch into next week and increase fire behaviour. Read More Vancouver Canucks Sports Soccer News News
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- Vancouver Sun
Squamish reports progress in fire fight, as northeast B.C. hopes for rain
A fire that has been burning out of control as it threatened Squamish this week is expected to be declared 'held' in the next couple days, a spokesman with the B.C. Wildfire Service said Friday. Rory Baldwin told a news briefing that crews expected good progress this weekend thanks to favourable weather, while Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said rain on Thursday night had prompted celebrations on the streets. The blaze — which triggered a local state of emergency and has been deemed 'out of control' since it was discovered on Monday — was 60 hectares in size, with Hurford attributing an increase to improved mapping. 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. 'It's been a long week,' Hurford told the briefing Friday, while noting that the community that's halfway between Vancouver and Whistler usually sees a lot of traffic and visitors over the weekend. Hurford said he'd heard of people wanting to return to closed trails, but it was not safe to 'push the limits.' 'We want visitors to be mindful of the extensive emergency response that's underway,' he said. The Squamish Fire Rescue chief, Aaron Foote, told the briefing that extra groundcrews and another helicopter had arrived to help the fight. The district had earlier said on social media that a Black Hawk helicopter would be helping the aerial fleet drop water on the flames. Foote said there had been strong progress at the southern end of the fire and the heavy bucketing was underway in the north. He also noted fire activity had 'decreased substantially' thanks to an increase in humidity. But he said burning trees had dropped overnight, within about 40 metres of homes. More than 200 properties, including multi-family dwellings, were under evacuation alert, he added. Foote said there had been a 'truly incredible' outpouring of support from the community for the local and B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters. Baldwin said he expected the fire to be declared held 'within the next operational period or the day after that.' The Squamish fire is among about 100 blazes burning across the province. The Pocket Knife Creek wildfire in the northeast 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. But B.C. Wildfire Service information officer Julia Caranci said 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. It is one of three wildfires of note, alongside the Kiskatinaw River fire and the Summit Lake fire, all of which are in the northeast where most of the province's fire activity is concentrated. A situational report posted to the service website on Friday said rain was also forecast for most of northern B.C. this weekend before easing Sunday, and warned of the possibility of slides caused by sudden rainfall on eroded areas. The report noted a 'warming trend' was expected to return to the province on Sunday, which could then stretch into next week and increase fire behaviour.
Global News
5 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.
