Update: Evacuation Alert Rescinded for Signal Hill Wildfire

kc dyer
Jul 16
3 min read

Updated: Jul 19

Blaze south of Pemberton now being held

Aerial shot of the Signal Hill Fire taken when first spotted, July 15. Courtesy BC Wildfire Service.

July 19 Update:

BC Wildfire Service continues to report the Signal Hill Fire as 'Being Held', and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District has rescinded the Evacuation Alert for the Village of Pemberton and surrounding area.

The Evacuation Order remains in place for One Mile Lake Park in order to allow safe working space for firefighters.

As of 7 p.m. this evening, the BC Wildfire Service is currently fighting 18 wildfires in the Coastal Fire Centre, with three 'under control', four 'being held' and eleven rated as 'out of control'.

July 18, 4 pm Update:

BC Wildfire Service now reports the Signal Hill Fire as 'Being Held'. The fire remains at approximately 97 hectares in size, and the evacuation alerts and order have not yet been rescinded.

Overnight, they report the fire was held in check by the rain, and today's cooler temperatures have also aided the effort to battle the blaze.

Overnight crews reported working to manage containment of the blaze and to locate any new spot fires. Ground crews and helicopter bucketing are attacking all flanks of the fire.

The Sea to Sky Highway remains open but no stopping is permitted within the marked wildfire zone. More information can be found DriveBC.

July 17 Update:

This morning's update from BC Wildfire Service shows the Signal Hill fire has now spread to 97 hectares and remains out of control. The Evacuation Order for One Mile Lake Park remains in place, and the Village of Pemberton continue to be on Evacuation Alert.

As of July 17, BC Wildfire reports there are 10 fires burning in the Coastal Region, with nine of them rated as Out of Control and one, in Ferrabee, listed as Under Control.

Evacuation Order area of One Mile Lake Park (in red, left), and Evacuation Alert area of the Village of Pemberton (in orange, right). Maps courtesy BC Wildfire.

Original story:

BC Wildfire Service has issued an Evacuation Order for One Mile Lake Park effective late last night in order provide safe working space to crews fighting the Signal Hill Wildfire.

Parts of the Village of Pemberton continue to be on Evacuation Alert, with the most current information available at pemberton.ca/emergency-response.

An evacuation alert is a warning issued regarding a potential threat to life or property. It is intended to give residents time to get ready for a possible evacuation.

The Signal Hill wildfire, was spotted yesterday and has grown to 38 hectares overnight.

It is still classed as Out Of Control, and is suspected to be human-caused. BC Wildfire says they are running skimmers out of Green Lake and are asking all boaters to clear the area immediately, and stay near shore to avoid interfering with the planes.

BC Wildfire offers residents who are subject to a wildfire evacuation alert a list of ways to prepare their home if they are required to evacuate, as the timing may be limited once an actual evacuation is called. This includes:

Ensure your vehicle has fuel. The tank should always be at least half-full.
Move patio furniture, cushions and door mats indoors.
Take down flammable curtains and window treatments.
Connect garden hoses and fill large containers with water, such as pools, hot tubs and garbage cans. This can assist firefighters and help slow advancing flames.
Ensure your house number is visible. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be opened by hand if you lose power.
Close all windows, vents, doors and other openings in the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood. Close and latch gates, but do not lock them.
Prepare an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag so you are ready to leave on short notice.