Breaking: Wildfire Above Lions Bay

BC Wildfire, LBSAR on scene, asking residents to avoid area

Blue smoke from a wildfire above Lions Bay can be seen against the low clouds, August 23. Photo by kc dyer.

BC Wildfire and Lions Bay Search and Rescue have been deployed to a wildfire near the Village.

Likely the result of a lightning strike from last night's storm, LBSAR's Training and Search Manager Maria Masiar says the fire is burning at approximately 400-450 metres above sea level, at a location between Lone Tree Creek and Rundle Creek.

LBSAR are asking residents to avoid the Erin Moore and Unnecessary Trails until further notice. They also note that firefighting vehicles are using Oceanview Road to access the fires, and are asking residents to stay clear.

No structures are currently under threat.

This is the third lightning-strike event that BC Wildfire has dealt with along the Sea to Sky today. Earlier out of control fires at Crumpet Mountain in Squamish and at Whyte Creek above Ansell Place are both now considered being held.

Updates to this fire event will continue to appear on this page as we receive them.

BC Wildfire helicopter tows a bucket used for dropping water on the fire near Lone Tree Creek above Lions Bay on August 23. Photo by kc dyer.

Latest reports from BC Wildfire state the blaze is .009 hectares in size, and that crews are currently on scene at the fire.

Alertable Update, 8:49 p.m.:

Wildfire is being monitored by firefighting agencies. No change is reported.

Update 10 p.m.:

LBSAR Training and Search Manager Maria Masiar reports that her team are standing down for the evening. She says the wildfire continues to be monitored by "Unified Command', which is made up of members of Metro Vancouver's wildfire team and Lions Bay Fire Rescue personnel.

Masiar said that the blaze is very small, and believe it is containable. "They are considering it a 'rank one' fire. The tree that was hit by lightning is burning, along with a bit of the forest duff surrounding the tree," she said.

She notes that all the surrounding trails are closed to the public, and will remain so until the fire is declared out.

Now that the cloud ceiling has lifted, a helicopter has been ordered to continue water-bombing the area.

The Watershed has contacted Lions Bay Fire Chief De Arcangelis for further comment.

A view of the Lone Tree Creek wildfire from the ground. Photo courtesy LBSAR.