Fire Breaking Out On Blackcomb
Karl Woll | July 30, 2009 4:35 pmIf the wildfires in Kelowna weren’t enough there are early reports of a fire breaking out on Blackcomb mountain after a lightning strike around 3pm today. Comments like this from people in Whistler are spreading around Twitter:
Holy crap, forest fire literally EXPLODING on the mountain west of Blackcomb. It was just a couple trees and 5 mins later a huge plume. (Via @Kabutar)
@Daveburch posted some pictures shortly after the fire broke out (including one of a water bomber in action)
Around 4pm CTV broke with this report:
Tourists are being evacuated from Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, B.C., after a wildfire broke out on the popular mountain Thursday.
The fire is currently estimated at four hectares, and is located north of Crystal Ridge.
The Coastal Fire Centre advises that firefighters are currently attacking the fire from the ground, and water bombers are en route to help extinguish the blaze.
Officials believe the blaze was sparked by lightning on the afternoon of July 30, 2009.
None of the homes located lower on the mountain have been evacuated yet.
Flames from the blaze are visible from Whistler’s main village.
You can get a sense of where the fire is from looking at the Blackcomb webcam, which will also give you an updated shot every 15 minutes.
There is also a fire going in Pemberton (triggered by lightning 2 days ago), and I was alerted to these pictures via Amber Turnau’s blog:
Photo by dbsteers on Flickr.
Photo by dbsteers on Flickr.
Get an update on all BC wildfires here.
As of 4:30pm the Wildfire Management Branch report for the Blackcomb fire is:
blackcomb mountain (V31127)
Location: North of Crystal Ridge
See approximate location on a Mapquest mapDiscovered: Thursday, July 30, 2009
Size: 4.0 ha (estimated)
Status: Active
• 0% contained
This fire is currently rank four, which is highly vigorous surface fire behaviour with torching.Interface: This is not an interface fire.
No further details available at this time.
Cause: Lightning Lightning Caused
Resources
Airtankers are currently being deployed to this fire, and will assess resource needs on arrival.
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