Update: 8:15 a.m., Sept. 3
The Bastion Peak fire at Lillooet Lake is still listed at 20 hectares, according to an update from the BC Wildfire Service.
"The fire was active yesterday (Sept. 2), with moderate downslope growth and some upslope growth. Moving forward, crews will be working to prevent further growth downslope, and to contain the fire on the flanks where it is safe to do so," the update reads.
"Higher, inaccessible portions of this fire will continue to be active until weather conditions change. Heavy helicopters will continue to bucket on active flanks as required. Heavy equipment has been brought in to open the Green River Forest Service Road - crews will work to keep the fire from crossing this road. To the east there is a burn scar from 2020, which may slow down potential growth in that direction."
The two fires in the Elaho Valley, northwest of Whistler, are being left for now due to terrain.
"This incident is burning in steep and inaccessible terrain that is unsafe for crews to work," reads a note on the 414.6-hectare blaze just west of the Elaho River.
A second large fire is burning just south of that, at 238.2 hectares.
Check back for updates...
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A handful of fires north of Whistler are burning out of control and growing as temperatures climb, leading to smoky skies in the corridor.
In the resort, the fire danger rating is listed as extreme as of Wednesday morning, while the air quality is a 4/10—moderate risk. The forecast calls for sunshine and a high of 34 C.
As of this writing, the BC Wildfire Service's map has not been updated since yesterday morning—Pique has reached out to the Coastal Fire Centre for info and will update this story as necessary,
The smoky skies in town are likely the result of three larger fires: one by Lillooet Lake, and two massive wildfires in the Elaho Valley.
The blaze on the west shore of Lillooet Lake, southeast of Pemberton, was listed at 20 hectares as of yesterday morning. The out-of-control fire is believed to be lightning-caused.
In the Elaho Valley, one fire is listed at more than 415 hectares, and another at 238 hectares.
Three other out-of-control fires are also still burning near Pemberton from last week's lightning storm, including a five-hectare blaze near Rutherford Creek, while west of Whistler, a small fire is burning 0.009 hectares on Mount Cayley.
Stay tuned to the BC Wildfire Map for the latest, and check back with Pique for updates.
