Metro Vancouver wildfire crews quickly suppress Coquitlam wildfire

Metro Vancouver wildfire crews have quickly extinguished a fire spotted around noon on Saturday, approximately 10 kilometres north of the Coquitlam dam.

Brant Arnold-Smith, program manager of emergency management with Metro Vancouver Regional District, says aerial crews spotted a visible smoke column while on a routine patrol of the watershed.

“We immediately dispatched an initial attack crew and aerial resources to the scene,” Arnold-Smith said. “Aerial resources commenced strategic bucketing while the initial attack crew cut a trail to hover exit the helicopter and reach the fire scene.”

Metro Vancouver wildfire crews have been effective in containing and suppressing a fire in the Coquitlam Watershed. There’s no open flames, very limited smoke, and it remains classified as a creeping, smoldering ground fire. The risk of the fire spreading or growing is very low. pic.twitter.com/l32VvbO3Kr

— MVRD Emergency Services (@metrovanemerg) September 3, 2023

Arnold-Smith says nothing has been impacted by the fire since it’s in such a remote area and has only grown to 100 square metres in size.

The fire does not pose any threat to the public or the Coquitlam water supply, according to Arnold-Smith.

It’s currently classified as a creeping, smouldering, ground fire, with no open flames and very limited smoke.

“The major risk was to the safety of our watershed as far as a forest fire occurring there, so we made sure that we well-resourced our crews to get out there and knock down that fire as soon as possible with all the resources that are at our availability,” he said.

Sparked by lightning, the fire has since been named the Lighthall Creek wildfire by BC Wildfire Services.

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Arnold-Smith says crews expect to be working on the ground for a number of days to come to ensure no hotspots flare up and any danger trees can be promptly removed.

Emergency services say residents can expect to continue seeing a helicopter in the area throughout Sunday while it continues to aid fire suppression efforts.

Throughout the summer, similar fires on Mount Seymour and in Lynn Canyon Park have also been rapidly knocked down by Metro Vancouver emergency response crews.

Arnold-Smith says this comes back to the talents of the region’s wildland firefighters and their ability to respond quickly when watershed or communities are at risk.

“We are very fortunate to have world class water,” he said.

Metro Vancouver Initial Attack Crew took action immediately after the fire was reported on Saturday, and were able to establish fire guards to prevent it from spreading. A helicopter bucketed water to cool hotspots. pic.twitter.com/aBMU51bvVN

— MVRD Emergency Services (@metrovanemerg) September 3, 2023

Over the past two years, Arnold-Smith says Metro Vancouver’s firefighters have proven their effectiveness and plan to build upon that success as the climate continues to change.

“In light of the changing environment when we look at wildfires and how it’s affecting our province and also areas across Canada and North America,” he said. “Climate change is something that we have a focus on and ensuring that our crews are well resourced, well trained and ready to respond is of utmost importance.”