Squamish wildfire grows in size, but officials say conditions improving [Video]

A wildfire that has placed more than 200 properties under evacuation alert in the District of Squamish has grown in size, but officials say conditions for fighting the blaze are improving.

The Dryden Creek fire, which is burning next to the Sea-to-Sky Highway about 45 kilometres north of Vancouver, grew from 14.4 hectares Tuesday evening to 20.2 hectares Wednesday. It later ballooned to 54 hectares in size, after daytime winds contributed to increased fire behaviour and growth on its north flank, the district said.

The nearby Alice Lake Provincial Park was put on evacuation order Wednesday, with B.C. Parks advising all visitors to leave the park immediately and remain out of the area until further notice.

The district said in an update at 9:45 p.m. PT that while the fire isn’t currently threatening park facilities, “ongoing fire growth towards access routes and reduced visibility” prompted the closure.

Earlier in the …