Wildfire erupts just north of Squamish, around 100 homes under evacuation alert
Posted June 9, 2025 6:21 pm.
Last Updated June 10, 2025 1:33 pm.
The District of Squamish expanded an evacuation alert to cover around 100 homes in the Brackendale neighbourhood on Tuesday after a wildfire broke out Monday afternoon.
The out-of-control wildfire, last measured at around five hectares, is just east of Highway 99, in between Depot Road and Dowad Drive.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Thick smoke is spreading south over Howe Sound and Porteau Cove Tuesday, as flames from the fire can be seen about 100 to 200 metres above and east of Highway 99, in small pockets of the dense forest on the hillside.
In a media availability Tuesday, Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said it’s a very challenging time for the community.
“As you can see behind us, it’s in and amongst the community. I know many residents and businesses are feeling anxious, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed,” he said.
The District of Squamish declared a state of local emergency, Hurford explained, to ensure that the region can access all provincial resources available.
“This isn’t a change in threat level to the community,” Hurford clarified. “This is really about us being able to be positioned to access the resources that we need, and if there is an escalation, we have specific powers associated with that.”
Hurford urged residents to stay up to date with Squamish Alert to get information as soon as possible.
Squamish Fire Rescue Chief Aaron Foote shared that the municipal service is working with the BC Wildfire Service, the RCMP, and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) to extinguish the Dryden Creek wildfire.
“The fire suppression efforts have been aggressive since yesterday evening, with air and ground crews working the fire today,” Foote explained Tuesday.
“We have three dedicated helicopters — given the terrain, these are the most effective tools we have to use at this time,” he added. “Additional fixed-wing aircraft may be available, but given the terrain, they’re not the most appropriate use of that equipment.”
“Our focus for the Squamish fire is setting up sprinkler protection for the strategic infrastructure, such as homes, and there is some critical infrastructure on the top of the mountain that we’re also mindful of,” Foote explained.
The latest measurement of the fire remained at five hectares, he said, but as the fire is out of control, it has the potential to spread beyond its boundaries.
The evacuation alert area east of Brackendale, current as of 12:45 p.m., June 10. (Courtesy BC Wildfire Service)
“Evacuation alerts have been issued to properties at the east end of Depot Road, so east of Highway 99, including Depot Road campground and the properties at the end of Tantalus Road,” Foote said, adding that around 100 properties are now under the alert.
“The evacuation alert area is currently being expanded to include more properties in this vicinity. The Emergency Operations Center is currently issuing these notices. As we speak, this is not a requirement to evacuate, but a notice of potential evacuation that may be required. If the evacuation order is issued, officials will go door to door to these properties … and an evacuation order will be shared through Squamish Alert to impacted properties.”
Foote shared that no properties have been ordered to evacuate as of midday Tuesday, but fire crews will continue to examine alerts to impacted properties.
Foote is also urging that people stay off the trail system around Depot Road. “There’s a lot of trail networks surrounding this scene, and we’re asking all users of trails in the area to stay clear. There’s plenty of hazards in the area, with rockfall and danger trees, along with aerial operations bucketing right now.”
Foote shared that the winds in Squamish are expected to reach 30 kilometres an hour, which will “most likely impact fire spread to the north.” Overnight, Foote said the fire grew around 40 metres to the south and “slightly” to the north.
Currently, the fire is around 500 metres from the Brackendale neighbourhood, Foote said. “The winds aren’t looking like it’s pushing the fire towards Brackendale. There’s also a large fire break with Highway 99 in between this fire location and Brackendale.”
“This is a very steep and austere location. There’s lots of rockfall, lots of danger trees that have come down over the night, and then, obviously, with fires that impacts the root structures of trees. We do have instances of trees coming down, which spreads fire, but it also limits the area that we can put ground crews in,” he explained.
On Monday, the district said 20 firefighters from the Pemberton fire zone and an air tanker joined the initial firefighting effort later in the evening.
“We provided an initial attack crew, a response officer, and two helicopters. All are assisting on scene now,” said Gordon Robinson for the Coastal Fire Center at the BCWS on Monday night.
The wildfire service is asking drivers not to stop on the highway to view the fire, “as this poses other significant risks.”
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With files from Jan Shuermann.
