As flames crawled up the mountainside near Squamish last night, residents of the Paradise Valley area received the evacuation alert many British Columbians have come to dread. The wildfire, which started Wednesday afternoon, has already consumed over 15 hectares of forest just northeast of the community.
I spoke with Clara Winters, who lives with her two children in one of the 200 homes now under alert. “We’ve packed our emergency bags, but it’s the waiting that wears you down,” she told me while loading photo albums into her car. “My kids keep asking if we’re going to lose our house.”
BC Wildfire Service officials confirmed early Thursday that the blaze remains classified as “out of control,” with crews working through the night to establish containment lines. The fire’s proximity to populated areas prompted immediate action from local authorities, who issued the evacuation alert covering approximately 500 residents.
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurley addressed community concerns at an emergency briefing this morning. “Public safety remains our absolute priority,” he stated. “While we haven’t moved to a full evacuation order, we need everyone in the alert zone to be ready to leave immediately if conditions worsen.”
The timing couldn’t be more concerning. British Columbia’s wildfire season has started unusually early this year, according to provincial data from the Ministry of Forests. Last year’s devastating fire season burned over 2.8 million hectares across the province and forced thousands from their homes.
Walking through downtown Squamish this morning, I noticed the eerie orange glow filtering through what should have been clear mountain views. Local businesses remain open, though several owners expressed concern about potential evacuation orders affecting their operations during what should be the start of tourism season.
“We just recovered from the pandemic slowdowns, and now this,” said Miguel Torres, who runs a popular coffee shop near the town center. “But we’ve been through tough times before. The community always pulls together.”
The wildfire response team has deployed multiple helicopters and water bombers to the area, with ground crews working to create firebreaks along vulnerable edges of the blaze. Changing wind patterns remain the primary concern, according to BC Wildfire incident commander Jasleen Kaur.
“The Paradise Valley area presents challenges because of its forested terrain and limited evacuation routes,” Kaur explained during this morning’s media briefing. “We’re asking residents to prepare now rather than waiting for a potential evacuation order.”
At the temporary emergency operations center established at Squamish Elementary School, volunteers are coordinating accommodation options for those who might need to evacuate. The Canadian Red Cross has also mobilized resources to support affected residents.
Provincial Minister of Emergency Management Bowinn Ma issued a statement emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting the community. “We have authorized all necessary resources to assist Squamish during this challenging time,” the statement read. “Emergency Support Services teams are in place to help those who may need to evacuate.”
Climate scientists have been warning for years that British Columbia faces increasing wildfire risks due to climate change. Dr. Ellen Whitman, a forest fire researcher at the University of British Columbia, told me that the early start to this fire season follows concerning patterns.
“What we’re seeing in Squamish reflects the new reality for many BC communities,” Whitman said. “Longer, more intense fire seasons with fires starting earlier in the year are exactly what climate models have predicted.”
For the residents of Paradise Valley, such scientific explanations offer little comfort as they watch smoke billow above their homes. Local resident Tom McKenzie described the community’s resilience while preparing his property.
“We’ve lived with the threat of wildfires before, but it never gets easier,” McKenzie said, hosing down his roof as a precautionary measure. “My neighbors and I have been checking on each other, making sure everyone has somewhere to go if we need to leave.”
The Squamish Nation has also activated its emergency protocols, with particular concern for cultural sites and traditional territories in the affected area. Council member Deanna Lewis expressed both worry and determination.
“Our people have deep connections to these lands going back countless generations,” Lewis said. “We’re working closely with firefighting teams to protect not just homes but places of cultural significance.”
As of this reporting, Highway 99 remains open, though officials warn conditions could change rapidly. The Squamish RCMP has increased patrols in the alert zone, both to assist residents and to ensure properties remain secure if evacuations become necessary.
For now, the people of Squamish wait and prepare, their eyes constantly drawn to the smoke-filled skies above. As one community member told me while filling sandbags at a local distribution point: “The mountains have always been both our blessing and our challenge. This is just another reminder that we live with nature, not apart from it.”
Emergency officials encourage residents in the alert zone to register with the district’s emergency notification system and to prepare essential documents, medications, and supplies for potential evacuation.
