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http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2009/07/31/bc-090730-cj-blackcomb-fire2_584.jpg A lightning strike is believed to have started the fire on Blackcomb Mountain Thursday. (Submitted by Greg Norgaard) 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. 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.

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Jane Armstrong and Wendy Stueck Vanco

Jane Armstrong and Wendy Stueck Vancouver — From Friday's Globe and Mail Last updated on Thursday, Jul. 30, 2009 11:45PM EDT A forest fire has broke out on Blackcomb Mountain in the resort town of Whistler, B.C., the venue for scores of Olympic sports this winter. The fire, which was started by a lightning strike, mushroomed in size from two to 75 hectares over a 90-minute period yesterday afternoon, on the fourth day of a scorching B.C. heat wave. The fire forced hikers and resort staff off the mountain, but by last night the fire was a long way from any buildings in the tourist town, the venue for several alpine Olympic events next February. However, about 375 Whistler and Blackcomb staff were evacuated off the mountain yesterday afternoon when lightning strikes occurred with more frequency. Fire information officer Starr Munro says given the conditions, forest service officials expect the fire to continue to grow. By early evening, the fire was burning toward Blackcomb's Crystal chairlift but away from the village. The region of the fire borders Garibaldi Provincial Park. Blackcomb Mountain is home to the Olympic Sliding Centre, which will host the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events during the 2010 Games. Ms. Munro says officials have ordered hikers and resort workers off the mountain in a corridor being used by water bombers to fight the fire. Plumes of smoke could be seen from the scenic resort village as the fire grew. “I was impressed at the speed of the response, and how many aircraft were involved,” said Ben Thomas, co-owner of VIP Mountain Holidays in Whistler. Mr. Thomas was in his office, in Whistler Village, when he saw smoke, which appeared to be coming from Blackcomb Mountain, and rushed outside to see what was going on. Within minutes, airplanes and helicopters were on the scene, with the planes making sweeps and dropping red flame retardant as residents watched the drama unfold. Hot, exceedingly dry weather, as well as frequent lightning storms, no doubt have crews on high alert but nonetheless, Mr. Thomas marvelled at the quick response. “The number of aircraft that were on the scene right away, it was almost like a war zone.” Doug Forseth, senior vice-president of operations for Whistler Blackcomb, told a news briefing that workers were evacuated off the hill as soon as the lightning strikes began yesterday morning. “We were ahead of the game on that one. “We noticed lightning coming into our zone around 1 p.m. We had everyone out of the mountain area by 2:15.” There are about six other fires burning in the region, all the result of lightning strikes. Mr. Forseth said no Olympic venues were threatened. “There is nothing on that side of the mountain that is Olympic related, so there is no issue with any of the facilities for the Games,” he told a brief news conference last night. The renowned resort town, which is known around the world for its challenging ski runs, is also a popular tourist destination in the summer for hikers and mountain bikers. Whistler is experiencing the same hot and dry temperatures as the rest of the province. The mercury has soared to the high 30s all this week. That heat wave helped fan the flames, said Phil Taudin-Chabot, Manager of the Coastal Fire Centre for the Forests Ministry. “You don't have to be a weather expert to appreciate how dry it's been in the last little while. It really sucks the moisture out of the vegetation. When you get that mixed in with steep slopes, you can get some pretty rapid spread.” Approximately 35 people are fighting the fire and another 60 are on standby. However, Mr. Taudin-Chabot said it has not been labelled an interface fire yet, meaning no buildings are threatened. Seven air tankers dumped fire retardant on the blaze as did Chinook helicopters, which hovered over the mountain. The fire started when lightning hit near the Crystal Hut, a restaurant at about 6,000 feet on Blackcomb Mountain, and the Crystal chairlift. A chef and server with Canadian Snowmobile and All-Terrain Adventures were preparing for an evening event at the Crystal Hut when the fire broke out, said company general manager Craig Beattie. The two men were evacuated by Whistler Blackcomb staff and Mr. Beattie had to cancel the evening's events, which featured an ATV ride, a meal and entertainment for 15 guests. The guests are on standby for Friday night, he said. His staff were surprised, but unfazed. “They'd go back up tonight, if they could,” Mr. Beattie said. http://beta.images.theglobeandmail.com/archive/00150/Whistler_fire_li_150922gm-a.jpg

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