B.C. provincial park evacuated, RCMP appeal for info on Squamish wildfire

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jun 12, 2025 8:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 8 hours ago

The politician of Squamish, B.C., said helium knew it was a stressful clip for residents, arsenic an out-of-control wildfire burns successful hills supra the assemblage wherever a section authorities of exigency was declared this week.

But Armand Hurford said crews are making bully advancement and the assemblage astir 50 kilometres northbound of Vancouver is not successful contiguous danger.

"It's alarming language, [but] it's an important tool," helium said of the exigency declaration astatine a briefing connected Thursday.

"The municipality is functioning. Kids are going to school, the buses are moving connected time, the cafés are busy, and this isn't a concern astatine this clip wherever the municipality astatine ample is successful danger."

The Dryden Creek occurrence was conscionable 5 hectares successful size connected Tuesday erstwhile the District of Squamish declared the emergency. It had reached 59 hectares by Thursday, astir tripling successful size from the time earlier erstwhile it got wrong astir 40 metres of homes.

Aaron Foote, the main of Squamish Fire Rescue, said astatine Thursday's briefing that crews had been installing structural extortion connected homes closest to the wildfire, but the combat had "gone precise favourably overnight."

He said bid of the occurrence combat would beryllium transferred from his section to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) successful the days ahead. 

The territory said the BCWS and Squamish Fire Rescue had recommended the closure of Alice Lake Provincial Park and an evacuation bid was issued.

In a connection to CBC News, B.C. Parks said unit helped much than 80 camping parties permission the parkland pursuing the closure.

The territory said successful a societal media station precocious Wednesday that the occurrence was not actively threatening parkland facilities but was increasing toward entree routes and the fume had resulted successful reduced visibility.

The territory aboriginal said visibility had improved, allowing helicopters to statesman bucketing Thursday morning.

The Squamish Nation said successful a post that it had removed each invaluable items from the Alice Lake agelong location arsenic a precautionary measure.

The BCWS said the fire is suspected to beryllium quality caused, which led to a constabulary probe and a Squamish RCMP appeal for information.

The Mounties said successful a quality merchandise that they were informed of fume connected the hillside astatine the extremity of Tantalus Road connected Monday astir 5:30 p.m.

But they accidental it is believed to person been started astir 4 p.m. that time connected a motorcycle trail, truthful officers are asking anyone with accusation astir the occurrence to interaction police.

The Squamish occurrence is 1 of astir 100 wildfires burning passim B.C., astir of which are successful the province's northeast.

In its latest update, the BCWS said determination are presently 50 wildland firefighters moving alongside Squamish Fire Rescue unit to incorporate the Dryden Creek wildfire. It said 5 helicopters had besides been deployed.