Minnekhada Park wildfire still out of control, crews anticipate 'multi-day operation'
The sound of choppers was relentless over Coquitlam, B.C. on Monday, as five helicopters took turns pouring thousands of litres of water every hour on the wildfire burning in Minnekhada Regional Park.
On Saturday morning, a brush fire was reported prompting a closure of the park to all visitors.
As on Monday, it had grown to 12 hectares and was still classified as out of control but firefighters reported it did not grow significantly overnight Sunday, saying and they have slowed its growth.
The fire is described as spotty, stubborn, and burning in steep terrain.
"The wildfire has been burning in very steep, heavy terrain within the regional park. We've encountered falling rocks, falling trees, hollowed out trees that are falling in and around our crews," said Brant Arnold-Smith, emergency operations centre director for Metro Vancouver Regional District.
"Safety of our crews as well as the public is a priority, so we've had to take that strategic consideration with all of our tactical operations on site.
Pilots have been using water from the Pitt River and a hydrant at a nearby lodge.
Smoke is still an issue in parts of Metro Vancouver, but the air quality has improved.
“Just know that there are tinder dry conditions,” said Arnold-Smith. “We’re at a high to extreme fire rating point now, and it does not take a lot to ignite a small brush fire, and have that brush fire grow,” he cautioned.
With no rain in the forecast for at least a week, the operation is expected to take several days.
"With continued dry weather in the area and also in the forecast, the firefighting effort is expected to be a multi-day operation and we will be on site for a number of days to come," Arnold said.
The BC Wildfire Service says it's believed the blaze is human-caused, but the investigation is ongoing.
In an update over the weekend, officials reminded residents that the use of drones over an active wildfire is "strictly prohibited" after one was spotted in the area Saturday night.
"The use of drones impedes operations and puts firefighters and pilots at risk," BC Wildfire Service said in a social media post.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Monthly earnings rise, payroll employment falls: jobs report
The number of vacant jobs in Canada increased in February, while monthly payroll employment decreased in food services, manufacturing, and retail trade, among other sectors.
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
2 military horses that broke free and ran loose across London are in serious condition
Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in a serious condition and required operations, a British government official said Thursday.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.