Squamish firefighters battled 40-foot high flames late Saturday (July 12) night.
At 11:30 p.m. Squamish Fire Rescue received a call regarding a blaze at the former Hydor Tech building on Galbraith Avenue near Nexen Beach. Three fire trucks arrived on scene to find a raging fire engulfing a construction trailer. The 40-foot trailer was next to a large warehouse that was also damaged by the blaze, fire chief Russ Inouye said.
Approximately 16 firefighters fought the fire. Paramedics accompanied the fire service, however Inouye said the building and trailer were unoccupied.
“We suspect no one was inside,” he said.
The trailer was being used as an office for a construction company that was leasing the property. Firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire, Inouye said.
With the hot weather, people need to be extra vigilant when it comes to campfires, construction equipment and discarding cigarettes, he said. Monday, July 14, the B.C. Wildfire Management Branch bumped up the province’s fire rating to “Extreme.” However, there are no restrictions on open fires and campfires. Squamish Fire Rescue takes its direction on banning backyard fires from the branch, Inouye noted.
Inevitably, the summer heat equates to a busy time for the service, he said. Firefighters often find themselves on call outs to deal with campfires throughout the corridor, spreading resources thin, Inouye noted.
“We will get more calls and it is almost always as a result of some human-started fire.”
Squamish Fire Rescue is in the midst of a recruitment drive. On Wednesday (July 23) and Thursday (July 24), the department is inviting people interested in volunteer positions to attend information meetings at the Tantalus Fire Hall on Tantalus Road. Participants will learn what the department is about and will be able to ask questions about being a firefighter.
“It’s a fairly significant time commitment.”
