Motorists were stranded north of Pemberton and Mount Currie this week after a pair of mudslides closed Highway 99 overnight on Aug. 5.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, it wasn’t one slide, but two of about 400 to 600 cubic metres.
The slides were caused by heavy rain shortly before 6 p.m. on Aug. 5, and impacted between Rancheree Road and Seton Lake Road, south of Lillooet, the ministry said.
The highway was closed with no detours available while crews assessed the damage on Aug. 6.
Luckily, no injuries were reported in the slides, and the highway was reopened that evening.
Mary Louise Poirier was returning home to Mount Currie from a weekend camping trip with her boyfriend when they came across the slide.
The weather was getting stormy by the time they passed through Lillooet, she said, with heavy rain and lots of lightning.
“When we first got onto Duffey Lake Road, two vehicles flashed their hazards at us—we didn’t know why so kept going,” she said.
The couple soon found out. Poirier estimated the slide happened “maybe 20 minutes” before they arrived.
“There was many vehicles parked and many people outside their cars. Someone told us it was a mudslide that washed out the road. I got out to go take a look. I didn’t go too close because I was cold and being cautious,” she said.
“I did see a few people standing in the mud—it was up to their knees! Also many people standing around it. We waited awhile, just in disbelief and shock. We didn’t know what to do.”
Needing to get home to care for the dogs, the couple eventually decided to take the long way around to the Lower Mainland and up to Pemberton, arriving home at 2:20 a.m.
That wasn’t the only excitement from Mother Nature, as the lightning in the area Aug. 5 also sparked several new fire starts in the Pemberton region.
As of Pique’s weekly press time, crews were dealing with five small fires in the Pemberton and Whistler area.
"Due to a smattering of lighting across the Pemberton zone last night, (Aug. 5) BCWS is currently responding to several new wildfire starts in that area," said Sam Bellion, fire info officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, on Aug. 6.
"Between the incidents we have four initial attack crews, two Type-3 crews, several response officers and four helicopters actioning these incidents."
A fire southwest of Pemberton and north of Whistler, at Rutherford Creek, was originally being held, but had grown to six hectares as of press time.
"We are currently responding to Rutherford Creek wildfire (V31841) located eight kilometres southwest of Pemberton with two Initial Attack crews, two helicopters and air tanker support. This fire is approximately six hectares in size and is classified as Out of Control. It is burning at a rank 3-4 (a moderately to highly vigorous surface fire)." BCWS said on social media.
"The fire is highly visible from the Pemberton area and surrounding communities. There is no threat to communities or values at this time."
A second fire, northeast of Whistler at Ure Creek, was being held at 8 hectares as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 7.
North of Pemberton, crews were also dealing with three small fires at Birken Creek and Birkenhead Lake, all out of control.
Whistler’s fire danger rating was listed as extreme as of press time.
Campfires are currently prohibited.
The Whistler Fire Rescue Service reminds the public we all have a shared role in fire prevention.
"This means adhering the campfire ban, fully extinguishing cigarettes in ashtrays or water, consulting with WFRS on high-risk construction activity within 10 metres of the forest/vegetation and reporting illegal burning or fires to 911," the Resort Municipality of Whistler said last week.
See smoke? In Whistler, report it by calling 911. Outside of Whistler, call *5555 on a cell phone or 1-800-663-5555.
Stay up to date on the latest at bcwildfire.ca.
