Smoke Creeps Toward Squamish as Wildfire Continues to Burn

The fire burning in the Elaho Valley, 67 kilometres west of Pemberton, is now pushing its way toward the town of Squamish.

A weather inversion continues to blanket the growing fire, forcing smoke to move along valley bottoms toward the town. On Tuesday, BC Wildfire reported that the fire had grown in size since Monday and now covers approximately 130 hectares in steep terrain.

Smoke from #Elaho fire continues to drift into the #Squamish / #Pemberton valley. Info: http://t.co/U8NGV9LuEi pic.twitter.com/cnnlAecD7c

— BCGovFireInfo (@BCGovFireInfo) June 16, 2015

Dry conditions and fuel types in the area are prompting extreme fire behaviour. In addition, visibility in the region is extremely limited due to the smoky conditions.

The Elaho fire was human-caused, but does not appear to be due to industrial activity. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Resources have been amplified as a result of the growing fire, as a total of two officers, 50 firefighters, one helicopter co-ordinator, five helicopters, two excavators, a water tender, and four tree fallers are on site as of Tuesday.

There are currently no air quality advisories, but depending on prevailing winds, smoke can travel long distances and residents should refer to the BC Air Quality website for current updates.

The fire burning near Pemberton and Squamish is under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Fire Centre Wildfire Management Branch. For up-to-date information on the fire, visit the BC Wildfire website.

Photo Credit: BC Wildfire Centre.