Firefighters make progress on wildfire north of Squamish

SQUAMISH, B.C. The first major blaze of British Columbia’s 2020 fire season has doubled in size near Squamish, but the B.C. Wildfire Service says that is due to better mapping, not further spread of the flames.

Wildfire service information officer Marg Drysdale says the fire in the Squamish Valley is now estimated at 203 hectares, or just over two square kilometres.

She says 46 firefighters, four helicopters and several pieces of heavy equipment are being used to fight the fire, along with two fallers who will cut trees weakened by the fire along Squamish Valley Road.

Toni Kerekes, who operates a riding school in the area, says flames climbed “like a ladder” up the steep valley hillside in the hours after the fire broke out. She says she saw at least three charred homes as she escaped the area with her family and horses late Wednesday.

Drysdale says the situation Friday is calmer, with cooler, moist conditions favourable to firefighting efforts, although she says the blaze remains uncontained.

“We know the fire is person caused,” she said, adding it remains under investigation.

Conditions are extremely dry in the valley and in neighbouring Paradise Valley north of Squamish, but Drysdale said crews are managing to keep flames from cresting the ridge and moving closer to Paradise Valley homes. Evacuation orders and alerts issued by the Squamish-lillooet Regional District remain in place. The District of Squamish is also maintaining its declaration of local emergency.