Squamish wildfire being held, crews working toward full containment

The wildfire on the northern edge of Squamish is classified as being held on Monday after a weekend of favourable weather conditions.

BC Wildfire Service Fire Information Officer Sarah Budd says dozens of ground crews are working to get the Dryden Creek wildfire fully under control.

“We also have three helicopters actioning this fire,” Budd told 1130 NewsRadio, adding the fire now sits at just under 60 hectares.

An evacuation alert for properties near the fire, issued by the Squamish Fire Department, has been downsized.

Because the Dryden Creek Fire is in difficult terrain, it could take crews another week or so to wrap things up.

“This fire has been burning in sort of really difficult terrain,” explained Budd.

“Crews are going to remain on site until we get it to that under control stage.”

The clean-up, however, can take up to a week once the fire is under control.

Firefighters were aided in their efforts by cooler conditions starting Friday morning.

Additionally, since June 13, the fire moved slightly “into some terrain that crews feel they can really make some progress on the fire, and it’s made a noticeable difference,” said Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford on Friday.