Wildfire still out of control, causing delays on Sea to Sky
Posted June 23, 2019 6:46 am.
Last Updated June 23, 2019 9:42 pm.
SEA TO SKY (NEWS 1130) — Crews are still battling an out-of-control wildfire, about three hectares in size, that broke out between Horseshoe Bay and Lions Bay Sunday morning.
The fire — which BC Wildfire says may have been caused by a power line — has led to lane closures on the Sea to Sky Highway. Traffic was limited to one lane in both directions all day Sunday.
A 3-hectare fire is burning out of control north of Horseshoe Bay on the Sea to Sky. A spokesperson from BC Wildfire tells me crews have been working since 4 a.m. to suppress it. Believed to have been caused by a power line. @NEWS1130 #wildfires (Thx @Misteedwalker for the pic!) pic.twitter.com/K3HewLhL3i
— Nathan Durec (@ndurec) June 23, 2019
Fire Information Officer Donna MacPherson said crews were still trying to get it under control on Sunday evening. Nearly 30 firefighters, five helicopters and fixed-wing tankers were deployed to fight the blaze.
“The crews have been working hard on this fire. It’s proving a difficult one for them. It’s a very, very steep cliff. They’re having to battle a lot of rolling debris,” she explained.
Three crew members will remain on the scene overnight to monitor the situation, a full crew will return at 8 a.m. on Monday.
She says the fire is moving uphill, away from the highway and it currently poses no threat to any homes or other buildings.
The Metro Vancouver Regional District Emergency Services also said there is no risk to residents of Electoral Area A.
https://twitter.com/IsabelleRaghem/status/1142997829834563585
Tom Cully, who lives in the area, said he woke up to the smell of smoke on Sunday morning. He could hear and see air tankers overhead heading toward the tall pillar of smoke.
“We smelled smoke in the area so we got up to investigate and saw the plume to the south of us. There is smoke in the area,” he told NEWS 1130 Sunday morning.
If you have any updates and it’s safe for you to get in touch with us, send us a message on Twitter or give us a call at 604-873-6397.
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