Believe it or not, another fire was sparked Friday afternoon, as fire crews continue to battle a wildfire in the Squamish Valley that started Wednesday.
According to the District, Squamish Fire Rescue and local civilians rushed to a brush fire near Stawamus Elementary School., in Valleycliffe, just before 2:30 p.m., April 17.
Firefighters arrived in minutes, and passersby in the area were already working to put out the flames with fire extinguishers.
The fire spread quickly in the dry conditions and burned an area of 60-feet by 100-feet, and ran 30-feet up nearby trees, a District news release stated.
Ten Squamish firefighters responded and the fire was out quickly.
As with the Squamish Valley fire, this fire was human-caused and Squamish RCMP is following up.
“Conditions are extremely dry at the moment and so everyone’s full vigilance is needed, even though it is only April,” said District of Squamish Fire Chief Bill Stoner in the news release. “Thanks to the accessible location and quick response, this fire was dealt with quickly. We only have to look to the Magee Road fire burning in the Upper Squamish Valley to see the devastation that a fire can cause.”
A campfire ban was implemented in the District shortly after the blaze, due to the dry conditions and the ongoing emergency response to the Magee Road Fire — which was estimated to be 203 hectares on Friday — to further reduce the fire risk.
For the latest information on current wildfire activity throughout the province, go to http://www.bcwildfire.ca
