Lightning forces evacuation of Blackcomb Mountain

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Given B.C's beetle kill forests and unusually dry summer weather, we knew it was a matter of time before a significant fire occurred in Whistler.

There was no way that Canada's three levels of government would let the "crown jewel" of B.C.'s tourism industry and the official host town of the 2010 Olympics  burn to the ground, with only 196 days to go.

We tested this theory yesterday when a Rank 4 forest fire broke out on Blackcomb Mountain. The fire was started by lightning that struck north of Crystal Ridge, and quickly spread from 4 to 75 hectares. Over 300 tourists and staff were evacuated from the mountain facilities and hiking/biking trails.

Within minutes, three helicopters arrived to attack the aggressive fire with water from nearby Wedge Lake. Fire crews were already battling fires in the nearby towns of Pemberton and Lillooet, so resources were simply diverted to the "needier" cause. Within hours, seven air tankers had been diverted to fight the Whistler fire.

If I lived in Pemberton or Lillooet, I would be a little incensed that my vital fire resources were being diverted to fight a fire in a resort area that wasn't even under a fire alert or an evacuation notice.

This preferential treatment towards Whistler only fuels the growing cynicism and negativity from other B.C. communities.

Luckily, the fire was burning away from Whistler Village and the $138 million Whistler Sliding Centre.

The timing of this fire couldn't be worse with the approaching August long weekend, the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, BBQ Championships and lower than expected tourist visits to the resort. Negative publicity that Vanoc didn't need, especially with the mounting anti-2010 sentiment in both Whistler and Vancouver.

Immediately after the fire, representatives from Tourism Whistler and Intrawest were assuring tourists that the resort was open for business. Whistler Mountain will be open again and it will be business as usual for this resilient bunch.

However, if you suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses, you should consider staying away given the gaze and smoke in the air. A fact that you won't hear from the Tourism Whistler folks. The top of the mountain would be the last place I'd want to be on a hot, humid day wih fires raging everywhere.

What iif the wind changes direction and the fire moves towards the Olympic venues or Whistler Village? Could VANOC actually cancel the Owe-lympics?

It's a tough call. The money has been spent, private security firms have been hired and rare wetlands destroyed to pave the way for the "Five Ring Circus." We might as well recoup all the money we can to offset the burgeoning post-games debt.

As of 9 p.m. on July 30, the Blackcomb Mountain fire was still 0 per cent contained and a new fire was reported in the Callaghan Valley, the site of the 2010 nordic, biathlon and ski jump events. Residents of Lillooet to the north were also placed on one-hour evacuation notice.

It appears that Mother Nature is not letting up.

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