Dryden Creek Wildfire

The Dryden Creek wildfire remains Under Control as BC Wildfire crews continue to monitor lingering hot spots.

A State of Local Emergency is still in effect. An Evacuation Order and Evacuation Alert remains in place due to hazards adjacent to the wildfire zone. Assessment work is ongoing to understand the potential risk of rockfall and danger trees.

For the safety of our responders, the public is urged to respect all trail closures implemented as a result of the Dryden Creek wildfire.

Trails west of Jack’s Trail towards Debecks Hill remain closed.

Disregarding trail closures can interfere with fire fighting operations. Please adhere to all posted signage.

For up-to-date trail closure information, visit the Recreation Sites and Trails BC website: sitesandtrailsbc.ca/closures.aspx

The Dryden Creek Wildfire is now classified as Under Control. BC Wildfire crews will continue work to reinforce existing containment lines and put out lingering hot spots, focusing along the southeast and southwest flanks of the fire. 

Smouldering and spot fires may continue to be visible within the area of containment. Squamish Fire Rescue will continue to respond to any incidents within the District of Squamish boundaries.

An Evacuation Order and Evacuation Alert remains in place due to hazards adjacent to the wildfire zone. Assessment work is underway to understand the potential risk of rockfall and danger trees.

Alice Lake Provincial Park is open with the following restrictions:

• South Beach remains closed to vehicles. Hikers/bikers may pass through, however please follow signage and watch for machinery and fire crews operating in the area.
• Trails west of Jack’s Trail towards Debecks Hill will remain closed. View a map of the closure area.
• Stump Lake may be used for helicopter bucketing, please stay close to shore.
• Visit the park advisories page for the latest: https://bcparks.ca/alice-lake-park/#advisories 

Thank you everyone for helping share these updates.

The Dryden Creek wildfire is being held and the fire is projected to remain within the current perimeter, based on fuel, weather conditions and resource availability.

As Incident Command has been transferred from Squamish Fire Rescue to BC Wildfire Service, further wildfire updates will be posted on the BC Wildfire website.

Smouldering and spot fires may continue to be visible within the area of containment. Squamish Fire Rescue will continue to respond to any incidents within the District of Squamish boundaries.

Under BC Wildfire’s direction, a geomorphologist will be onsite tomorrow to assess the area impacted by the wildfire.

An Evacuation ORDER has been issued to portions of the following properties effective June 16 at 3 p.m. The Order pertains only to the areas east of Dryden Creek due to hazards such as danger trees and rockfall adjacent to the wildfire zone:

• 1796 Depot Road
• BLOCK D SECTION 23 TOWNSHIP 50 AS SHOWN ON PLAN EPP65366

An Evacuation ALERT remains in place for 4000 Highway 99 and properties on the 1700 block of Depot Road.

Alice Lake Provincial Park will reopen Tuesday June 17 with the following restrictions:

• South Beach remains closed to vehicles. Hikers/bikers may pass through, however please follow signage and watch for machinery and fire crews operating in the area.
• Jack’s Trail will reopen on Tuesday, trails west of Jack’s towards Debecks Hill will remain closed.
• Stump Lake may be used for helicopter bucketing, please stay close to shore.
• Drones are prohibited - unauthorized use poses a serious hazard to aviation staff and interferes with wildfire response.

Thank you everyone for helping share these updates.

Notices, impacts and closures:

• A State of Local Emergency remains in place.
• An Evacuation Alert remains in place for many properties closest to the fire zone. The alert for the remaining areas has been rescinded.
• Stay clear of the area so as not to interfere with fire suppression efforts. 
• Recreation trails in proximity to the wildfire perimeter are CLOSED to all users. View the trail closure map.
• Alice Lake Provincial remains closed. View BC Parks active advisories. 
• Visibility on Highway 99 may be variable depending on smoke conditions.
• Danger trees, debris and rocks in the burned area will continue to fall over the coming days. 
• A District of Squamish and Squamish Nation Campfire Ban remains in effect. 
• Drones must not be flown. Canadian law states that drones are not permitted within 9.3 kilometres of a wildfire. View a map of the exclusion area. 
• Please conserve water to support fire suppression efforts. If Squamish Fire Rescue has not used sprinkler protection on your property, please refrain from sprinkler use at this time. 
• Visitors to Squamish are encouraged to stay informed and recreate responsibly in light of the ongoing wildfire response. 
• Air quality indexes have improved however vulnerable people may be impacted. Please inform yourself by checking information and links to air quality resources here.

Stay informed 

• The District will issue periodic updates when there is new information to share.  
• SquamishAlert will notify residents directly if the situation changes for their property. Sign up at Squamish.ca/Alert. 
• The District will update Squamish.ca and social media channels as new information is available.  
• The BC Wildfire Service will provide updates at: https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V30558&source=map

Fire fighting efforts will continue in the weeks ahead. Thank you for your patience, cooperation and support for all those working hard to keep our community safe.

The District of Squamish has been advised by BC Wildfire Service that the Dryden Creek Wildfire is Being Held and has decreased its level of risk for those in the community.  

Accordingly, the District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre in coordination with Squamish Fire Rescue has RESCINDED the Evacuation Alert for properties on Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision along Dowad Drive. The current conditions have improved to the degree that the current Evacuation Alert is no longer required for these properties.

The evacuation alert for the properties in Dryden Road east remains in effect.

If a subsequent evacuation alert is necessary, a new order will be made. A notification of this update has been sent to Squamish Alert subscribers within this zone. 

View the Evacuation Alert Update.

Weekend Visitors:

Visitors to Squamish are encouraged to stay informed and recreate responsibly in light of the ongoing wildfire response.

A State of Local Emergency remains in place and many properties closest to the fire remain under Evacuation Alert.  We want visitors to be mindful of the extensive emergency response effort underway, stay away from identified trail closures due to the active response and recreate responsibility to minimize impact on resources.

Air quality may be impacted due to the smoke and is something to consider for vulnerable people. Please inform yourself by checking information and air quality resources.

Next Update:

We anticipate providing another update on Sunday, June 15.

Due to improved fire conditions, the EOC has transitioned to reduced hours over the weekend and expects to provide one public update per day after we receive the updates from the BC Wildfire Service.

Thank you everyone for helping share these updates.

With the risk from the fire now decreased, @BCWildfireServices is now the lead agency. This means that further operational updates will be posted to their page:  https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V30558&source=map

We will continue share updates as they become available on this page and our social media channels.

The Dryden Creek Wildfire remains stable as cooler conditions continue. The total size of affected area is still reported at 59.5 hectares and personnel numbers have not changed on site as crews continue to bolster containment lines.

BC Wildfire Service now classifies this fire as Being Held. This means the fire is projected to remain within the current perimeter, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability.

Fire fighting efforts will continue in the weeks ahead. Thank you for your patience, cooperation and support for all those working hard to keep our community safe. 

The Dryden Creek Wildfire remained stable and did not grow today with cool, cloudy conditions supporting less intense fire behaviour.  

The size is still reported at 59.5 hectares.  

BC Wildfire Service crews continued to work along the southwestern flank, closest to residential areas, bolstering existing containment lines with improved water delivery.  

65 BC wildfire fighters, five helicopters, and one piece of heavy equipment were on scene today. Squamish Fire Rescue personnel continue to focus on structural protection efforts and overnight tactical patrols. 

BC Wildfire Service anticipates being able to classify the fire as Being Held in the coming days, which means the fire is projected to remain within the current perimeter, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability.  The fire will remain visible, especially at night, as it consumes unburned fuel perimeter. This activity is expected and does not necessarily indicate fire growth or pose a cause for concern. 

The Dryden Creek Wildfire exhibited minimal growth yesterday and the forecast indicates good weather for a decrease in fire behaviour. 

The size is still reported at 59.5 hectares. 

BC Wildfire Service crews are working tirelessly towards containment, and are taking advantage of this favourable weather window. 65 BC wildfire fighters and five helicopters are on scene today. Squamish Fire Rescue personnel continue to focus on structural protection efforts and overnight tactical patrols.

An Evacuation Alert remains in place. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) expects to be able to revisit this as containment is achieved and the fire moves from being classified as ‘out of control’ to “being held”. This would mean that the fire is not expected to grow beyond the existing fire perimeter. 

Residents should be aware that danger trees, debris and rocks in the burned area will continue to fall over the coming days, which is resulting in loud crashes in some cases. This is expected and can be alarming to hear, especially at night. Fire crews are aware and these areas are being monitored. 

The Dryden Creek Wildfire (V30558) exhibited minimal growth today. Its size has been revised to 59.5 hectares, reflecting improved visibility and more accurate aerial mapping. Crews continue to make strong progress on the southern and southwestern flanks, while aviation resources remain focused on heavy bucketing along the northern perimeter.  

Yesterday's northern growth moved the fire from steep, inoperable terrain into more accessible areas, allowing crews to engage more directly in suppression efforts. The existing trail network in the area has supported access, water delivery, and the establishment of evacuation routes for personnel. 

The south perimeter- closest to evacuation alert zones and other identified values- remains the primary focus. Crews and aircraft will maintain active suppression in the days ahead, with forecasted conditions this weekend expected to support these efforts. 

The fire will remain visible, especially at night, as it consumes unburned fuel pockets within the perimeter. This activity is expected and does not necessarily indicate fire growth or pose a cause for concern. 

An Evacuation Alert remains in place.  

The outpouring of support from Squamish businesses and residents has been overwhelming, with many food and refreshment donations being delivered to the Fire Halls and Emergency Operations Centre, and many messages of support being sent. A sincere thank you from all of us! We are incredibly grateful to be part of such a supportive community.  

The Dryden Creek Wildfire remains at 54 hectares in size and there was minimal growth overnight.

BC Wildfire Service has multiple crews on site. Squamish Fire Rescue and Whistler Fire Rescue crews remain on site and will continue nightly tactical patrols.

Aviation resources remain on site and increased visibility allowed helicopters to begin bucketing operations early this morning.

A 70km/hr speed zone is in effect on Highway 99 with single-lane northbound traffic between Garibaldi Way and Depot Road. Bylaw Services continue to monitor the Highway 99 and Depot Road area.

The Dryden Creek Wildfire is now 54 hectares in size. Increased wind activity this afternoon led to some growth along the north flank, however, existing containment lines on the south and southwest flanks continue to hold. Five helicopters remained on-site today conducting bucketing operations, and additional support was provided by air tankers this afternoon. Surface winds have since subsided, and BC Wildfire Service personnel continue to work into this evening. 

Earlier this evening, the BC Wildfire Service and Squamish Fire Rescue recommended the closure of Alice Lake Provincial Park. While the fire is not currently threatening park facilities, ongoing fire growth towards access routes and reduced visibility prompted the recommendation. In response, BC Parks has asked visitors to vacate the area. For up to date information about access to Alice Lake, please visit https://bcparks.ca/alice-lake-park. 

It is important to note that the fire may appear more visible overnight, particularly from surrounding communities and roadways. This is due to the contrast of active flame against the dark backdrop and does not necessarily indicate increased fire activity. Active burning within the fire perimeter, such as pockets of unburned fuel showing open flame or trees candling is expected and not necessarily a sign of growth or cause for concern. Visibility at night can make wildfires appear more intense than they are during daylight hours.   

Public Update: June 11, 3:00 p.m.

Multiple agencies continue to work together to attack this fire and protect structures and critical infrastructure.

• BC Wildfire Service lists the fire size as 20.2 hectares.
• BC Wildfire Service has increased their onsite crew to 50 personnel.
• 20 Squamish Fire Rescue crew members are on site with additional support from a crew of 4 Whistler Fire Rescue

The BC Wildfire Service has updated the size of the Dryden Creek Wildfire to 20.2 hectares based on information received from the field.

The perimeter is defined as the furthest area to which the fire is spread. This change in size is based on improved visibility and our ability to collect more accurate data. This is not unexpected and still represents minimal fire growth.

We anticipate there will be updates to this number throughout the day as visibility increases and more accurate perimeter data can be collected.

We will continue to provide updates as new information is confirmed.

The following is an update on the Dryden Creek Wildfire.

We are happy to report that there was minimal growth overnight. Winds are blowing south/southwest which works in our favour.

The District of Squamish, Squamish Nation and BC Wildfire Service are working collaboratively on this incident:

• The fire remains at 14.4 hectares
• 32 BC Wildfire Service personnel are on site focusing on containment and structural and critical infrastructure protection
• 5 rotary wing aircraft are bucketing water
• 23 Squamish Fire Rescue crew members are on site
• Whistler Fire Rescue is assisting Squamish Fire Rescue crews to help build out structural protection systems
• A FireSmart educator is going door-to-door to support area residents with fire-smart tips 

An Evacuation Alert remains in place for properties at the east end of Depot Road, east of Highway 99 including the Depot Road campground, and properties at the end of Tantalus Road, properties along Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision.

No residents have been evacuated.

The District of Squamish and Squamish Nation have implemented municipal Campfire Ban. A State of Local Emergency remains in effect.

What you can do:

• Be mindful of signage and personnel working in the area
• Check in on your family, friends and neighbours
• Subscribe to Squamish Alert at squamish.ca/alert
• Stay tuned to squamish.ca for the latest 

We wish to express our continued thanks to all those working to fight the fire and keep residents safe, and for the ongoing community gratitude and support.

We will provide further updates throughout the day.

The following is the latest update on the Dryden Creek Wildfire.

BC Wildfire Service will continue its efforts until late tonight and will begin again early tomorrow morning.

An Evacuation Alert remains in place for properties at the east end of Depot Road, east of Highway 99 including the Depot Road campground, and properties at the end of Tantalus Road, properties along Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision.

At this time, there is no anticipated changes to Evacuation Alerts given current conditions.

Thank you again to all the first responders working to fight the fire and keep residents safe, and for the outpouring of gratitude and support expressed by the community.

We will provide further updates in the morning.

Aviation resources will remain on site throughout the evening, with airtankers and helicopters working hard to support suppression efforts. Helicopters are using Alice Lake to bucket water to the fire. For the most up to date information on access to Alice Lake Provincial Park, please visit:  bcparks.ca/active-advisories

Squamish Fire Rescue crews continue to work to establish structure protection for homes, and are making good progress with lots of resources and equipment on hand.

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the Evacuation Alert was expanded to include properties along Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision. This is not a requirement to evacuate, but notice that evacuation may be required. RCMP and Bylaw Officers have canvassed door-to-door in the Evacuation Alert area to connect with residents and inquire proactively about any special requirements such as disabilities or transportation needs in the event of an Evacuation Order.

If an Evacuation Order is issued, officials would go door-to-door to these properties to require individuals to evacuate. The Evacuation Order would also be shared through Squamish Alert to impacted properties. No residents have been ordered to evacuate at this time. 

The District would like to express immense appreciation for the hard work and dedication of all the first responders working to fight the fire and keep residents safe.

The following is an update on the Dryden Creek Fire.  

A coordinated and aggressive effort continues to attack the fire with air and ground crews. Squamish Fire Rescue is working in close coordination with all agencies including: BC Wildfire Service, Squamish RCMP, Squamish Nation, BC Emergency Health Services, Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, District of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre.

The fire suppression efforts continue to be aggressive with air and ground crews. Today, three dedicated helicopters will continue the attack. Given the terrain, these are the most effective tools to tackle the fire. Additional fixed wing aircraft will be brought in if required. 

A BCWS Unit Crew of 20 firefighters and an Initial Attack crew of 4 are on scene. Squamish Fire Rescue crews are working to set up sprinkler protection on neighbouring structures and assisting with fire suppression. 

Current Status: 

• The fire size remains at an estimated five hectares. 
• The fire is still considered out of control which means it has the potential to spread.  
• Crews are working to protect critical infrastructure and homes.  
• A State of Local Emergency has been declared to ensure that all resources are available to us if required. 

Declaration of State of Local Emergency issued.  

What is it? This declaration allows the local authority to take immediate action that might not be possible otherwise, such as evacuating areas or controlling the use of property, to prevent, respond to, or alleviate the effects of the emergency.

Out of an abundance of caution, BC Wildfire Service has requested that the District of Squamish issue Evacuation Alerts to properties at the east end of Depot Road, east of Highway 99 including the campground, and at the end of Tantalus Road.

This is not a requirement to evacuate, but notice that evacuation may be required. If an Evacuation Order is issued overnight, officials would go door to door to these properties to require individuals to evacuate.

Residents are not required to evacuate at this time as per the Evacuation Alert.

No other homes or neighbourhoods are being issued Evacuation Alerts currently. Updates will continue to be provided as new information is received.

The Dryden Creek fire (#V30558) is located above the eastern end of Depot Road. The BC Wildfire Service has actively and aggressively attacked the wildfire in Squamish by air and with ground crews. BC Wildfire Service will continue its efforts until late tonight and will begin again early tomorrow morning. Aerial attack will resume early Tuesday morning.

The District's response team is working out of the Emergency Operations Centre.

DRONE USE IS NOT PERMITTED IN THE AREA:

Fire crews are advising that drones being deployed in the area have the potential to cause a significant issue for the aerial attack. Drones must not be flown anywhere near the vicinity.

Visit the BC Wildfire Service website for additional information.

We recognize that residents are seeking further information. Squamish Fire Rescue is working closely with BC Wildfire Service and we will continue to keep the community updated.

BC Wildfire Service is actively on scene with aircraft and ground crew. Please continue to avoid the area. Further updates to follow. 

Original Post:

Squamish Fire Rescue is on scene at a wildfire located just east of Highway 99 between Dowad Drive and Depot Road in Squamish.

Crews are actively working to extinguish the fire. BC Wildfire Service has been contacted to assist.

Please avoid the area. We are asking motorists to avoid stopping on the highway to view the fire, as this poses other significant risks.

For more information and updates on this fire please visit the BC Wildfire Service website (fire V30558).  https://wildfiresituation.nrs.gov.bc.ca/incidents?fireYear=2025&incidentNumber=V30558&source=map

Updates will be provided as they are received.

Squamish is divided into 12 evacuation zones based on neighbourhood. In the event of an evacuation, zones will be prioritized based on the proximity of the hazard.

View the map.

Get to know the closest central transportation muster points near where you live, work, and play. If an evacuation order is issued and you do not have a ride, go to a central muster point to connect with transportation to a safe location.

View the map.

Discuss with your family what you would do during an evacuation alert or order. Make a plan with emergency contacts, a designated meeting point, and consider any assistance you may need to evacuate. Build an emergency kit with water, food, and safety items to be prepared for at least 72 hours, and keep your gas tank half full.

Learn how to build your own kit.

In the event that an Evacuation Order is issued, Brennan Park Recreation Centre will be designated as the Reception Centre for evacuees. Specific information will be included in the Evacuation Order.

More information on support services during an emergency can be found here.