—Update: July 18—
More than five weeks after it was discovered, the Dryden Creek wildfire has been officially declared out by the BC Wildfire Service.
The official call that the fire was extinguished came Thursday afternoon, July 17.
At its peak, the wildfire reached 59.5 hectares.
The blaze, which is believed to be human caused, was sparked on the hillside at the end of Tantalus Road.
At first, Squamish Fire Rescue attended on June 9, and then quickly called in BC Wildfire Service crews to help put it out.
In that first day, a curious public worked to view the fire, leading to fire crews reporting that drones were being deployed in the area, which had the potential to cause "a significant issue for the aerial attack."
By late evening on June 9, the District's response team was working out of the Emergency Operations Centre.
Shortly after, the District said BC Wildfire Service had requested that the municipality issue evacuation alerts to more than 100 properties at the east end of Depot Road, east of Highway 99, including the Mountain Fun Basecamp campground, and at the end of Tantalus Road.
On July 10, a declaration of state of local emergency was issued, to give the municipality the power to, among other things, evacuate folks if need be.
The evacuation alert was expanded to include properties along Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision.
By the end of Day 2, the fire was estimated to be at five hectares.
A co-ordinated attack was underway as agencies worked together to tackle the fire and its impacts. Agencies included BC Wildfire Service, Squamish RCMP, Squamish Nation, BC Emergency Health Services, Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and the District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre.
By June 11, the fire was at 14.4 hectares.
A local FireSmart educator was going door-to-door to help area residents make changes to better protect their properties.
The fire was said to have reached 20.2 hectares, later in the day.
The BC Wildfire Service increased their onsite crew to 50 firefighters, while 20 Squamish Fire Rescue members were on the fire, with additional support from a crew of four Whistler Fire Rescue members.
By night on June 11, the Dryden Creek wildfire had reached 54 hectares.
Alice Lake Provincial Park was closed, and visitors were asked to vacate the area.
By June 12, the fire was at 59.5 hectares, where it remained.
Squamish RCMP put out a news release asking anyone who was in the area at the time the fire started or who may have information related to it to contact them at 604-892-6100. (As of July 18, this request remains active.)
Locals in vast numbers worked to show support for those working tirelessly to extinguish the fire and keep citizens safe.
"The outpouring of support from Squamish businesses and residents has been overwhelming, with many food and refreshment donations being delivered to the Fire Halls and Emergency Operations Centre, and many messages of support being sent. A sincere thank you from all of us! We are incredibly grateful to be part of such a supportive community," the District wrote on its fire update page on the morning of June 12.
On June 13, 65 BC wildfire fighters and five helicopters were on the fire while Squamish Fire Rescue personnel continued to focus on structural protection efforts and overnight tactical patrols.
By June 14, the fire had been downgraded to being held, which meant it was no longer expected to grow.
On June 15, the BC Wildfire Service took over control of the fire from Squamish Fire Rescue.
While the evacuation alert continued for homes in Dryden Road east, the evacuation alert for properties on Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision along Dowad Drive was rescinded.
On June 16, due to danger trees and the risk of rockfall, an evacuation order meant that two properties could not be occupied.
On June 17, Alice Lake Provincial Park reopened with restrictions in place.
June 19, the wildfire was classified as under control, which it remained until July 17.
Crews continued to work to put out lingering hot spots.
On June 24 and July 7, the state of local emergency was extended. It is currently set to end on July 21.
As of July 18, there are 73 active wildfires in B.C., four that started in the last 24 hours.
Campfires will be banned throughout the Coastal Fire Centre region, which includes the Sea to Sky.
The District of Squamish also has a campfire ban in place for within the municipality.
Report wildfires by calling 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on your cell, or by using the Report function in the BC Wildfire mobile app.
—Update: July 15—
The Dryden Creek wildfire is being monitored for a bit longer yet before it is declared out, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
It remains listed as under control.
“The last scan that we did on Friday did not show any hot spots, so we continue to monitor it through this hot, dry period,” said BC Wildfire Service fire information officer Kimberly Kelly.
The ongoing monitoring includes cameras on the weather station and flyovers, she said.
The Squamish wildfire started on June 9 and is believed to have been human-caused.
At its peak, it reached 59.5 hectares and put hundreds of people on evacuation alert.
‘So dry’
Kelly said if the public thinks of kindling used to start a campfire, that is what the forest floor is currently like.
As a result, the Coastal Fire Centre will implement a campfire ban across the region effective at noon on Thursday, July 17.
The prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety, Kelly said.
“Our fine fuels are so dry,” she said.
“When they are dry, and if a spark left an open fire and came in contact, the likelihood that it could start and … spread is really high, because there's so much available.”
The following are also included in the ban:
- Fireworks
- Binary exploding targets;
- Sky lanterns
- Wood-fired hot tubs, wood-fired pizza ovens and other wood-fired devices unless vented through a structure that has a flue and is incorporated in a building;
- Burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description;
- Controlled air incinerators
- Air curtain burners; and
- Carbonizers.
The prohibition stays in place until Oct. 31, or until the Coastal Fire Centre lifts it.
“There's no significant precipitation predicted into the future that we can see for now,” Kelly said. “We had a really dry June. We would need a lot of rain,” she added, explaining what it would take to end the ban.
A campfire ban is already in place within the District of Squamish, but outside of the town’s boundary, say at local provincial parks, campfires have been allowed.
But that ends on Thursday with the Coastal Fire Centre ban.
Trail closures related to the wildfire are still in place for Rigs In Zen and Wonderland, according to Recreation Sites and Trails BC.
A District of Squamish State of Local Emergency remains in place until July 21.
An evacuation order remains in place for one property, due to hazards created by the wildfire.
Kelly said that the public can really help by downloading the BC Wildfire Service app and using the reporting function if they detect any smoke or wildfire activity.
“Ideally, that comes with an image,” Kelly said. “You can just snap a picture on your cell phone and send it to us, and that really helps us locate the [location] faster. The faster we can get there, the more likely we can attack it successfully. It is really important for the public to be helping us out right now. It is hot and dry out there, and that is concerning.”
—Update: July 8—
The District of Squamish local state of emergency has been extended until July 21.
The state of local emergency was originally put in place on June 10 for the Tantalus Road, Brackendale and Skyridge areas due to the Dryden Creek wildfire. It was then extended on June 23 by two weeks to July 7.
The District request document notes that the extension was done in consultation with Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
Municipalities may request a state of emergency from the provincial government in order to access additional powers, such as issuing evacuation orders—one of which remains in effect for one property in Squamish.
As of July 8, the fire continues to be listed as under control—meaning it is not expected to spread further—with two initial attack crews of three people each continuing to monitor the site for lingering hot spots.
"While the Dryden Creek wildfire is classified as under control, it remains an active worksite where high-risk activities take place," reads the BC Wildfire Service website.
"Even if responders are not visible in a portion of the worksite, they may need access to that area on short notice. Over the next few days, crews will be monitoring lingering hot spots and demobilizing gear when possible."
To be declared out, all hot spots must be extinguished.
The Rigs In Zen and Wonderland trails remain closed, though Jack’s Trail is open.
The fire was sparked on June 9 and is believed to be human caused, according to officials.
—Original story: July 5—
As of today (July 5), 26 days after it started, the Dryden Creek wildfire has still not been declared out.
The fire sparked on June 9 and is currently listed as under control, which means it is not expected to spread beyond its current 59.5-hectare perimeter.
As of July 2, there were two initial attack crews of approximately three people each working on the site to find and put out any remaining hot spots.
Evacuation alerts dropped; one order remains
Those on evacuation alert due to the Dryden Creek wildfire can breathe a sigh of relief after the District of Squamish rescinded the alert on July 4.
On June 9, an evacuation alert was put in place for properties on Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision along Dowad Drive due to the threat of the wildfire.
On June 15, the alert was rescinded for all but 11 properties in the affected area. The remaining alerts were related to dangers from the after-effects of the active fire, including danger trees and rocks falling.
District crews have conducted an assessment to understand the potential risk for those homes. With that now complete, the alerts are no longer needed.
“The District of Squamish is working with property owners to share information about the risk assessment for their properties,” reads a District post.
Also, one of the two evacuation orders, which saw two residents unable to occupy their properties due to the potential risk, has been lifted.
The other remains in place, though the District says “it is anticipated that the order will be lifted in the near future.”
State of emergency remains
The state of local emergency, which allows a municipality to exercise certain urgent powers such as evacuations, remains in place.
Originally declared on June 10, the state of emergency was extended on June 23 by two weeks—to July 7.
Trail closures to note
The District has repeatedly asked the public to respect trail closures that are in effect still due to wildfire-related hazards.
The Rigs In Zen and Wonderland trails remain closed, though Jack’s Trail is open.
The District and Squamish Nation campfire bans put in place at the start of the wildfire remain in effect.
