BC Wildfire crews continue to battle 13 lighting-caused wildfires in the Pemberton area.
The Rutherford Creek Wildfire has now grown to 30 hectares. The Rutherford Creek Fire is located 8 kilometres southwest of Pemberton, and 21 firefighters, one officer, one helicopter and a water skimmer group are working to extinguish the fire.
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The Rutherford Cree fire is among the several lightning-caused wildfires in the Pemberton area that produce smoke visible from Highway 99, Pemberton and Whistler. The Birkenhead Lake Fire has also grown, and the Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park has been closed to the public. There are 26 firefighters and five operational staff responding to this fire.
However, according to a bulletin issued by the BC Wildfire Service, there is no immediate risk to property from these wildfires as the fires are in steep, challenging terrain.
“Crews are continuing to work on operable objectives and are supported by aircraft where the terrain is unsafe for ground crews to access,” BC Wildfire said. “Rolling debris and tree failure are occurring, and crew safety remains a top priority.”
People can expect to see aircraft working on these fires throughout the day and in the coming weeks. Water skimming aircraft require a long pick-up distance and a wide berth to do their job safely, and the public is asked to stay clear of the area.
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“When firefighting aircraft such as skimmers or helicopters are working on an active wildfire incident, they need room to maneuver and safely pick up water from nearby lakes. The public should stay clear of any area or airspace where aircraft are operating, as interference poses a safety risk and can cause operational objectives to be aborted.”