Village of Pemberton on Evacuation Alert Due to Out-of-Control Wildfire

The Village of Pemberton in British Columbia is on evacuation alert as an out-of-control wildfire, known as the Signal Hill fire, burns nearby. The blaze ignited late Wednesday afternoon approximately five kilometers south of Highway 99 and is currently estimated to cover 10 hectares. The fire is believed to be human-caused.

Heavy timber has allowed the fire to spread rapidly, producing significant smoke visible from the highway and the village. Wildfire crews responded quickly, deploying a helicopter and an air tanker to drop water from a nearby lake. However, one resident noted that the initial efforts appeared to have minimal impact compared to the scale of the fire and smoke.

An evacuation alert was issued for the entire village just before midnight. Additionally, an evacuation order is in effect for One Mile Lake Park on Highway 99, which will provide crucial working space for the crews battling the Signal Hill fire. The alert advises residents to be prepared to leave their homes on short notice.

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It took a while for the first helicopters to get on board. So we were all just kind of watching it burn there for quite some time, and then they sent in a couple of helicopters and they dropped … pretty good-sized loads. But in comparison to the smoke and the fire, it really didn’t look like it was doing that much.