An acre close to Belcarra Regional Park is being treated as an active fire scene today (Monday) and Tuesday after a blaze broke out last weekend.
Jay Sharpe, fire chief of the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department, said multiple calls came in when smoke was spotted at around 8 p.m. on Saturday (May 13) from a private power pole on the former Camp Howdy grounds.
Sharpe said he had the electricity to the 10 water access-only cabins turned off while about 22 volunteer firefighters battled the flames.
The Metro Vancouver Initial Attack Team, as well as the BC Wildfire Service, also helped on Sunday morning.
There were no injuries; however, the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue vessel from North Vancouver patrolled the waters to ensure the firefighters were safe as the fire was on steep terrain.
“We had to fight the fire from the top and bottom. It was a high-risk activity,” Sharpe told the Tri-City News.
The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
Sharpe said while most of the fire was doused by 2 a.m. Sunday, crews will be on the property for the next two days to monitor for hot spots as the weather is forecast to be warm and windy.
“It’s still an active fire scene. The fire is out, but the problem with fires in areas like this is that there is a lot of forest debris.”
It’s been a busy and long night for the crew assisting our friends @SasamatFire with a forest fire. pic.twitter.com/VKOsgmHy67
— RCM-SAR 02 North Van (@RCMSAR02) May 14, 2023
