Lightning activity in the Whistler area last Wednesday (July 25) afternoon resulted in two small fires being started on Whistler Mountain.

The first lighting strike at 2:45 p.m. was in the Khyber area, which is not in a guest accessible location during summer operations.

The second, at 2:50 p.m., occurred near Whistler Village Gondola's tower 28 in an area outside the terrain accessed by bike park users.

Officials with Whistler Blackcomb said the gondola was not operating at the time as it had been cleared for guest safety due to the potential of lightning in the area.

Operations notified Whistler Fire Department of the lightning strikes and fire trained staff were sent to each location.

Smoldering ash and smoke was present at the tower 28 location while the other small fire had burnt out on its own.

Whistler Blackcomb staff monitor lightning activity in the region on a daily basis and upon occurrence of lightning within 20 kilometers of the mountain on Wednesday staff off loaded guests from all chairlifts and stopped all lifts on both mountains.

About 600 guests were on the mountain at that time and were encouraged to remain inside the main lodges while those requiring immediate transportation off the mountain were shuttled by bus.