The Dryden Creek wildfire is B.C.'s smallest, but it was deemed a high priority for its proximity to the town of Squamish.Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press
A B.C. wildfire that came within metres of homes and triggered a local state of emergency in Squamish is now being held.
The BC Wildfire Service said late Saturday that the Dryden Creek wildfire, which ignited last Monday, is projected to remain within its current perimeter based on forest fuel, weather conditions and resource availability.
At about 0.6 square kilometres, the blaze was the province’s smallest wildfire of note, but its proximity to town had elevated it to one of the highest priority fires.
Squamish Fire Rescue, working in partnership with other agencies, set up sprinklers on nearby structures, as the BC Wildfire Service attacked the blaze by air and ground. As of Sunday, there were 57 wildland firefighters and four tree fallers working the fire, in addition to Squamish Fire Rescue personnel.
The wildfire agency said the fire will remain visible as it consumes unburned fuel within the perimeter, and that this does not necessarily indicate fire growth or pose a cause for concern.
The human-caused fire is believed to have started on a bike trail. Squamish RCMP is investigating the circumstances.
On Sunday afternoon, the District of Squamish rescinded an evacuation alert for properties on Tantalus Road north of Dowad Drive, and the Skyridge subdivision along Dowad Drive, citing improved conditions. A local state of emergency, and an evacuation alert for properties along Depot Road, remain in place.
Three wildfires of note continue to burn in B.C. The Pocket Knife Creek, Summit Lake and Kiskatinaw River wildfires in the province’s northeast, remained out-of-control on Sunday, though rainfall has slowed the growth of all three.
Meanwhile, thousands of people who were forced from their homes by wildfire in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been able to return home.
In the Manitoba community of Cranberry Portage, about 600 people who were ordered to evacuate after fire knocked out power two weeks ago were allowed to return this weekend.
How wildfire smoke and poor air quality can affect your health, and how to protect yourself
Opinion: As northern Canada burns, southern Canada makes climate change worse
Lori Forbes, municipal emergency coordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey and the Local Urban District of Cranberry Portage, said power has been restored and that evacuees, many of whom fled to The Pas and Winnipeg, were allowed to return home as of 8 a.m. Saturday.
While she said Cranberry Portage was starting to return to normal activity, she remained worried about the hot, dry weather in the forecast.
“I look at this beautiful, hot, nice day and just wish for rain,” Ms. Forbes said in an interview on Sunday. “We need a lot more rain in northern Manitoba. This is early in the season. We will have more fire starts.”
An evacuation order remains in place for the mining city of Flin Flon, located about 40 kilometres northwest of Cranberry Portage, where about 5,000 people were ordered to leave.
A province-wide state of emergency remains in place – a declaration that Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew on Thursday hinted he may use to compel hotel operators to make rooms available for evacuees.
In Saskatchewan, numerous evacuation orders in the province were lifted on Thursday and Friday, allowing about 10,300 evacuees to return home. More than 15,000 people have been displaced from various parts of the province since late May.
A dozen wildfires burned in Saskatchewan on Sunday, including four that were out of control.
The largest – the Shoe fire, which caused significant damage to Narrow Hills Provincial Park, the Gem Lakes campground, and numerous cabins and lodges – is expected to hold at around 5,544 square kilometres because of heavy rain over the weekend, according to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.
About 213 fires burned across the country on Sunday, including 87 considered out of control.