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Canada Day fire under investigation by Squamish firefighters

Authorities say the blaze was likely related to fireworks
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Festivalgoers gather downtown on Canada Day. Squamish firefighters say the cause of a fire on July 1 is likely due to the fireworks show.

Authorities are investigating a fire that was sparked during Canada Day.

“The cause is under investigation, though [it] is likely related to the fireworks,” said Squamish Fire Rescue deputy fire chief Aaron Foote in a joint email from District of Squamish spokesperson Christina Moore.

The blaze, according to Foote, was at the Waterfront development site at 1500 Highway 99, which is where he said the pyrotechnics were launched for the July 1 fireworks finale.

The site was chosen because it was away from the public, and nothing of value has been under threat, he said

Three fire trucks and 10 firefighters responded, along with an excavator that helped smother the flames.

Burning in a pile of wood waste about 25 feet tall, the fire was believed to cover an area of about 60 by 100 feet. It was extinguished within 12 hours.

Squamish Fire Rescue issued a permit for the fireworks to a pyrotechnic contractor that was hired by the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association, which organized the Canada Day festivities.

When asked for comment, Edward Archibald, vice-president of the association, said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined and referred further questions to the fire department.

The fire department said a safety plan was submitted for the fireworks, which included wetting down the area, having extinguishers on site and conducting a fire watch for two hours after the event.

All of those items were required as part of the permit, Foote said, and those measures were in place at the time.

“Many communities host a community fireworks display in order to minimize individuals setting off their own fireworks, which is much more dangerous,” he said. “Individual permits were not issued for the Canada Day holiday due to this risk.”

The District of Squamish was not the organizer of the Canada Day festivities but provided a grant to the business improvement association and some support throughout the day.
The District gave about $15,500 to the association to help organize public events throughout the year, including Canada Day.

The sunny weather has prompted the province to issue fire restrictions.

As of June 7, a Category 2 fire ban has been in place, which means open fires burning more than two metres in height and three metres in width are not allowed.

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