B.C. wildfire forces evacuations at Whistler, Blackcomb

Jul 30, 2009 at 19:55
Jul 30, 2009
by Tyler Maine
 
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Source: CBC News

Both Blackcomb and Whistler mountains have been evacuated as a vigorous forest fire quickly grew to 75 hectares on Thursday afternoon.

Fire crews were protecting nearby lodges from the uncontained blaze, but Whistler Fire Chief Rob Whitton said the fire was not threatening any Olympic runs or lifts.

A tower camera shows the forest fire near the ski resort Thursday

A tower camera shows the forest fire near the ski resort Thursday


Seven air tankers and several helicopters are dropping water and fire retardant on the fire, according to the B.C. Ministry of Forests. Whitton said the winds appear to be pushing the fire east, away from the village.

A lightning strike is believed to have started the fire around 11:45 a.m. PT on the east coast of Crystal Ridge, halfway up the mountain on the northwest flank of Blackcomb Mountain, according to a statement released by Julia Waring, communications director for the Resort Municipality of Whistler.

Witnesses said flames stretched more than 30 metres into the sky.

Pina Belperio watched the fire grow with a bird’s-eye view from across Green Lake, north of Whistler.

"You can see lots of red-orange flames building up, and the wind’s just blowing the flames just right now, just activating the whole fire," said Belperio.

Ellie Dupont, fire information officer for the coastal fire centre, said the current heatwave is partly to blame.

“We’ve been going through quite a drying period. And then the lightning we’ve been receiving, I think this is the third hit for that area,” said Dupont.

View live web cams from the resort.

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103 Comments

  • + 17
flag spokeydoke (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:10)
 It's raining in Whistler now and there were 7 bombers and lots of heli's dropping water. The fire is on Blackcomb and is quite a ways from the bike park. Hopefully it is contained so it does not spread that far. I'm sure the bike park will still open for the long weekend as long as there are no more lightning storms in the area.
[Reply]
  • + 21
flag n-bri (Jul 30, 2009 at 19:57)
 Fuck!! No!!!!!
  • + 7
flag n-bri (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:02)
 This could hurt Kokanee Crankworx if the dont contain it.
  • + 25
flag Colin994 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:03)
 mother nature is kinda a bitch
  • + 5
flag erik74 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:03)
 i hope it doesnt ruin many trails. would suck to be visiting whistler for riding...
  • + 10
flag rippin-norco (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:04)
 dude that could fuck up the whole mountain
  • + 3
flag ckruper (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:08)
 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :'(

hopefully it doesn't get to any trails
  • + 5
flag aflo661 (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:21)
 Im just at the base of Blackcomb right now and we just got a bit of rain and from what I can tell it seems to be under control. They dumped a shit load of water on that fire, watched it for hours from whistler.
  • + 4
flag face-plant-king (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:24)
 i hope it doesnt affect riding my mate has just got on a jet to whistler and its his only chance to goFrown
  • + 1
flag erik74 (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:27)
 well, they evacuated Whistler so as of right now, he wont be riding, but im sure those fire crews are working EXTREMELY hard to keep the beautiful mountain and all its trails/runs safe.
  • + 4
flag aaron98 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:00)
 the trails should be fine considering you dont ride blackcomb..you ride whistler, hopefully its contained there though
  • + 11
flag rigodon777 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:14)
 I'm also in whistler right now. And the fire is FAR away from the whistler hill's and most importantly, it got contain in the first hour it started. By the way, by evacuated whistler, they don't mean, evacuate all the hotels and everything. I'm still in my room and JUST rode the park. They evacuated people on the trails.. that's it!
  • + 3
flag Peter-C (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:19)
 Good because im heading up there in a few weeks from the Fraser Valley.
  • + 2
flag aflo661 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:22)
 Yah, evacuate just sounds cool. But they pretty much just got the staff off the mountain and shut down the lifts.
  • + 0
flag Atrak (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:36)
 doesn't help that the winter olympics will be hosted there.... in a couple months
  • + 3
flag bighitryda88 (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:44)
 ummm. Im also in whistler. This i some shitty reporting. My SGC coach just told us were riding tomorrow. evacuation my ass.
  • + 2
flag jackblack111 (Jul 31, 2009 at 0:03)
 damn son that sucks badly
  • + 2
flag shore21 (Jul 31, 2009 at 6:29)
 fuck the olympics if it means no Crankworx!!
  • - 1
flag konad (Jul 31, 2009 at 8:03)
 olympics need snow anyway so i dont even see it effectign that,but its prety ovious the riding will be fine,oviously they will have it out sooner then later blackcomb isint the place to ride as it is.
  • + 1
flag rigodon777 (Jul 31, 2009 at 15:53)
 Well. Just to tell you something. We rode today and it looked like nothing happened! Maybe there was a BIT of smoke everywhere on the hills.. but whatever!
[Reply]
  • + 9
flag Sata2007 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:03)
 and just when I was talking in another forum and my webpage that it seems that the economy has being hitting Whistler as there is not as many people as it used to be....BOOMER....

But, I'm not worry about the riding but the ecological damage to those beautifull mountains... Frown
  • + 5
flag snickkers Plus (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:57)
 stuff regrows and a fire can be good for starting a new ecosystem with nutrients. but its sad that animals are probs dying. anyways it shud be good.

sources" last year biology lol
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag jcinkits (Aug 1, 2009 at 23:13)
 dude shit f*ck suck...keeeeryst are there any bikers out there that have an ounce of grammer that isn't potty mouth, AND, can spell! grow up all of you...just because you can rip a bike doesn't give you a cooool factor for having an IQ of rock slime! You don't need to use the vocabulary of a bunch of bike posers pretending to be tailwhip 360 front flip A line rippers to be cool...the next time i'm sitting having a 'cool' one with my girlfriend @ whistler and i hear you spewing verbal vomit i will stick my socks that i have been wearing all day in my 'ripe'510 shoes so far down your throat you will be able to wipe your ass from the inside ! meantime, happy trails y'all. can you feel the love. jc.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag Mack-the-Beast (Jul 31, 2009 at 5:54)
 before u all go saying 'nooo i love whistler i hope its going to be okay' read what people are saying... 'ummm. Im also in whistler. This i some shitty reporting. My SGC coach just told us were riding tomorrow. evacuation my ass.'
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag LEVIB (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:31)
 i was there on wednesday and lightning started at 4 pm 1hour before the sign in for the phat wednesday races and they shut everything down for the night so the race was cancelled aparently the fire is out now i was texting some friends that live there.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag philo (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:40)
 man i hope the fire gets put out soon..thats alot of wood going to waist...an alot of hard work to go to waist also..an my vacation would suck if i cant ride there as planned.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Loach75 (Jul 31, 2009 at 9:18)
 I'm in Whistler and wow there is a lot of misinformation out there. This is a pretty serious fire. The fire was 75 hectares, which is a fair size and it was a rank 4 fire, on a scale of 6, also it was not contained an hour after it started, in fact it is still not contained. However, they hit it pretty hard yeasterday and it's down to 30 hectares and is now a rank 2 fire. If you want more info, go here: bcwildfire.ca/hprScripts/WildfireNews/OneFire.asp?ID=288
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mikethebiker69 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:17)
 dude that sucks balls, good things it contained amagine what peopel would think of whistler for the olympics and crankworks well all the best to the mountain, i lvoe that mountain going up soon soo i hope it doesnt ruined the mountain =(
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag brucie1 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:40)
 I was at Whistler all last week and it is very dry in places. On Friday I was on the mountain and they have been watering the areas in the bike area, a second use for snow making equipment. It is most likely the equivalent of peeing on a tree in the desert but I'm sure it allows people to use the hill and keep it open to tourists. On Saturday night in Squamish there was an incredible lighting storm that lasted an hour but was accompanied with massive rain. I'm sure more trail has been lost this week to earth moving equipment for more condos than to any naturally occurring fire. The riding was mind blowing BTW.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag geoffjansenphoto (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:52)
 its honestly no big deal its a tiny fire right now and id say 75% contaned... they have been working there asses of all day... the olympics are next year and the luge and the new peak to peak is near by they are defenitly not risking it!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jzuck (Jul 31, 2009 at 21:07)
 hey guys to answer your questions the mountain seems okay- i mean i rode today and everything seemed fine. i did hear a few helicopters fly over blackomb because i guess there are still some issues, but i am not too worried about whistler mountain.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag jzuck (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:25)
 well from the looks of it they finally got control over the fire without it spreading to whistler mountain so hopefully by tomorrow everything will have cleared up and the mountain will stay open!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag cthorpe (Aug 1, 2009 at 21:29)
 watched this fire for an hour or so from whistler bike& bean. definitely nothing to worry about as far as crankworks and riding in general. its completely on the other side of blackcomb from whistler peak. and they had it under control by that night. they had it completely out by the following day.
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag sniz (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:04)
 NO! this is horrible news. i hope everything will be OKAY!
[Reply]
  • + 5
flag RomoStills23 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:16)
 This could be the Apocalypse =O
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag SAVAGE-RIDER (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:01)
 HOLY SHIT!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I 3 Whistler!!
  • + 12
flag SAVAGE-RIDER (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:11)
 that was supposed to be a heart btw.
  • + 1
flag odin333 (Jul 31, 2009 at 19:04)
 you've never even been there haha.

would be kinda neat to ride like a smoking trail with a bunch of burnt trees though Razz
  • + 1
flag SAVAGE-RIDER (Jul 31, 2009 at 19:11)
 SHH!! Well, It's Whistler...THE most amazing bike park in canada!!
  • + 1
flag odin333 (Jul 31, 2009 at 19:17)
 you don't know from experience though Razz. We should take the train and go ride there for like a week haha. that would be intense.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bissellracing11 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:34)
 dude it sucks a lot if there is anything someones gonna be dramatic about on here this would be a pretty legit. im goin for crankworx this year and id be pretty disapointed riding in a forest of burnt out tree stumps ahaha
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag connor-morris (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:03)
 ok so its going to be under control they have 8 days to clear it up before crankworx and its on the opposite side of the opposite mountain. they need the port alberni mars water bombers to just dump a load right on the mountain!
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag rocnriderider (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:05)
 damn verry sad for you guys...
  • + 3
flag Cmontjumper (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:04)
 very sad for everyone!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag norco678 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:06)
 darn you should get some over our rain we've been getting dumped on for a week now.
  • + 3
flag rocnriderider (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:08)
 es our shit f*ckin rain...yea I hate it but maybe it's on your way! TOday it was a sunnuy day??!!
  • + 3
flag jimap123 (Jul 31, 2009 at 2:33)
 Oooo poor you been raining for a week. It rains all f*cking year here! Razz
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag stevesav44 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:11)
 that cant be good for business.... hope it gets under control soon, it would be a real shame if the fire damages any runs and takes away from whistler's natural beauty
  • + 1
flag nicknorco (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:51)
 Dude it hopefully is good I leave for sgc tomorrow and I'm in a panic now haha, but I called the girl there and she said that things are looking good for it and that no one should worry
  • + 1
flag hdawg125 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:53)
 so they said the bike park is going to be open tommorow?
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag eastern2626 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:12)
 man thats shit luck i wonder what the people in the sgc are feeling
  • + 3
flag n-bri (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:17)
 good point
  • + 1
flag jimap123 (Jul 31, 2009 at 2:34)
 A post further up said his SGC coach said they would be riding tomorrrow
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag doberdann Plus (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:06)
 WHISTLER SHALL LIVE ON!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag spokeydoke (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:14)
 Rumour is that it is contained. There are no more billowing clouds of smoke and the bombers have stopped. I also heard that Crystal Hut is gone...no more waffles for those of you who ski or snowboard.
  • + 2
flag coopers (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:25)
 No, the Crystal hut is saved! the fire has been long contained since it started later afternoon and should actually be almost gone if not totally done at this point.
  • + 1
flag carlmontnative (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:25)
 coopers, u are my asprine to my heart attack
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Biking584 (Jul 30, 2009 at 19:58)
 Fuck i wonder how long the mountain is gonna be closed for
  • + 3
flag RedzNC (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:03)
 Sounds like a while. Something that big and uncontained is going to take a while to get under control..
  • + 3
flag freeride5 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:47)
 probs untill the fires are contained they did say they were on blackcomb so that won't hurt the biking
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag nosirrom (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:12)
 someone save whistler!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag norcorival24 (Jul 31, 2009 at 17:51)
 focking weirs wether here at my home its always raining and there its hot as fire
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dh-devil Plus (Jul 31, 2009 at 17:09)
 So did they get the fire under control? and is there still going to be Crankwoxs?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag jamie-meaden (Jul 31, 2009 at 11:40)
 the olympics are on whistler mountain for the mens downhill. starts below freight train Smile
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag theedon (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:46)
 THE BIKE PARK IS OPEN! IT"S FUNNY HOW PEOPLE TURN SOMETHING INTO PANIC. Different mountains. Just saw a whistler rep on TV
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag geoffjansenphoto (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:35)
 Just so everone knows whistler mountain is not the one burning its blackomb so no trails are destored
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag konastab06 (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:28)
 shit i love then waffles, i can see the clouds from were i live in squamish
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag MarzRider (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:27)
 DAM! Got friends leaving for there in a couple of days for Crankworx. That really sucks.....
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag colnago (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:24)
 I'm supposed to go there on Tuesday for a few days. Wait and see, I guess? Wow, hard to believe...totally sucks.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag travishalford (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:18)
 that sucks i hope they get it contained soon or say bye to crankworks ext.....
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dray (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:17)
 im going to be so pissed if doest effect crankworxs im supposed to go from monday to sunday and i race on wednesday!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag norco6man (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:20)
 i wouldnt worry too much these fires are always coming and going
  • + 6
flag leon-forfar (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:40)
 THIS IS WHISTLER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag pdxseth (Aug 2, 2009 at 9:28)
 Thank god I got my Whistler riding in for the year.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag leon-forfar (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:38)
 WAIT WAIT, NO!!! does this mean airdome and all the trails are closed. cuz im going up sunday, and tuesday/wendsday:OFrown
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Budlee (Jul 31, 2009 at 14:58)
 The crystal area has opened up a treat. Its going to be an awesome winter
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Cuyler31 (Jul 31, 2009 at 0:28)
 im going there next friday will it be open do you think?
  • + 1
flag Bug5532 (Jul 31, 2009 at 5:33)
 you are a moron, read the replys..
  • + 0
flag rideonjon (Jul 31, 2009 at 11:19)
 your a moron there is still a big ass fire close to whis.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mountain-rider (Aug 1, 2009 at 4:18)
 so crankworks is still on right??????
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag hihi (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:19)
 a forest fire can jump and spread like triple is size in like hour, the chance of the fire to spread to whislter mountain is very high.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag josea (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:20)
 o shit im going to whistler tomorrow is the airdome safe???
  • + 1
flag leon-forfar (Jul 31, 2009 at 0:00)
 yea f*ck anyone know anything aboutb the airdome? im suppsed to go ride it on sunday. anyone think itll be open by then?
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag trailchef (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:19)
 doing the rain dance.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag makripper (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:26)
 wow, look at all these drama queens!
  • + 1
flag gtbiker87 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:32)
 haha no kidding. "oh no, I am going to Whistler in a month, can I still ride it!!!!!" ahahaha
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dhdemo840 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:32)
 THE MOUNTAIN WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ridex (Jul 31, 2009 at 11:15)
 ya i payed for 3 hours and mabe an hour in they stopped the lifts!!
  • + 1
flag dhdemo840 (Jul 31, 2009 at 11:24)
 Today?
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag extention (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:07)
 after fire it is easy to build trails. most of yours were built after fires
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag natewynanscreations (Jul 30, 2009 at 21:11)
 uh oh. hope it doesn't effect crankworx or the worlds best riding for that matter. good luck to the fire fighters!
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag veloparkbiker24 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:25)
 cra lets hope that it cant reach whistler
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag blackdragon092 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:53)
 well i hope it gets put out soon
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag piltz (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:19)
 why the fuck would you say that i hope you brake your legs
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag wienis (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:05)
 Oh dear...
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag willypuddleboy (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:36)
 im goin there this summer it better not burn
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag konastab06 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:58)
 snowboarding on black comb next year will be very interesting
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag norcalrider16 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:37)
 fuck i'm leaving for whistler in two days. FUCK!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag philsterr (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:38)
 The day I leave... Wow.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag fooldude7 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:20)
 this is really bad man
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag bline06 (Jul 30, 2009 at 22:54)
 yes whistler is burningSmile
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag piltz (Jul 30, 2009 at 23:27)
 what runs are fucked up
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag mtn-rider07 (Jul 30, 2009 at 20:55)
 that is what everybody is asking.....I hope so, i driving there tomorrow either way
[Reply]

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