Cliff fire at UBC contained; road, beach reopen
Posted September 7, 2011 4:40 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
UPDATE:
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Fire crews have just about put out the fire on the cliffs of UBC that has been burning since this morning.
Marine Drive and Wreck Beach are now open again.
Crews will keep an eye out for hot spots and flare-ups tonight.
There’s still no word on the cause but the fire department says it’s not suspicious.
EARLIER:
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – A cliff fire that broke out at UBC late last night has been contained.
The fire is just off SW Marine Drive above Wreck Beach. BC Forests Service attack crews have pushed their way into the dense terrain. A water bomber has joined the attack.
Evacuation plans are ready; they’re in place just in case the smoke becomes a big issue for some of the buildings along Marine Drive, where there are a lot of student residences. The evacuations would be voluntary, and at this point, no one is evacuated; it’s just a contingency plan. Crews say there is no real threat to the buildings or nearby botanical gardens.
Battaltion Chief Blair Franklin tells us the fire started near the beach before 11 last night, and they’re assuming it was caused by someone there. “We can assume that something was going on down there that precipitated this.”
Wreck Beach is closed, as is the stretch of Marine Drive near 16th, and likely will remain so for most of the day. Crews are asking people to stay away from Wreck Beach. Trails 6 and 7 are closed and being patrolled.
There’s still no word on the cause.
