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Apr 17, 2020 9:21 PM -

B.C.'s first major wildfire of 2020 destroys homes near Squamish: witness

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Toni Kerekes helps battle a wildfire in Squamish, B.C., Thursday, April 16, 2020. The BC Wildfire Service says crews are making good progress on a ground fire that's so far charred one square kilometre of bush and trees in the Upper Squamish Valley. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Felix McEachran Mandatory Credit

The BC Wildfire Service says an aggressive blaze near Squamish, B.C., is being held at one-square kilometre in size but residents pushed out by the flames say several homes have been lost.

Toni Kerekes runs a riding school in the area and says she saw one home burning and what remains of at least two others as she left the area late Wednesday.

She says the situation is calmer today with the fire mostly burning on a ridge between the Squamish and Paradise valleys.

Evacuation orders and alerts issued by the Squamish Lillooet Regional District remain in place.

The District of Squamish is also maintaining its declaration of local emergency, issued Wednesday shortly after the start of the fire, which is expected to be human caused.

Gusty winds, unseasonable heat and steep, challenging terrain is complicating firefighting efforts but Marg Drysdale with the wildfire service says calmer conditions Thursday helped crews working the blaze.

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