The Elaho wildfire, which is burning about 67 kilometres west of Pemberton, has now grown to 650 hectares.

This fire is exhibiting extreme fire behaviour due to dry conditions, a weather inversion and the fuel types present in the area.

Two officers, 70 firefighters, five helicopters, two excavators, a water tender and four fallers are currently onsite and an Incident Management Team from the Wildfire Management Branch is also en route.

This fire is burning in steep, inaccessible terrain. Reduced visibility due to smoke continues to challenge firefighters.

Depending on prevailing winds, smoke can travel long distances and the smoke from this wildfire continues to drift into the Squamish/Pemberton valley. The inversion is forcing the smoke to move along valley bottoms in the mornings and when the inversion lifts about midday, the fire’s behaviour becomes less predictable.

The Elaho fire was human-caused, but does not appear to be due to industrial activity. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

For information about air quality or to view satellite imagery from the BlueSky Western Canada Smoke Forecasting System, please go to: www.bcairquality.ca

For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca

You can also follow the latest wildfire news:

• On Twitter at http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo
• On Facebook at http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Media Contacts:

Donna MacPherson or Marg Drysdale
Fire Information Officers
Wildfire Management Branch
Coastal Fire Centre
250 951-4209