Blackcomb Mountain was evacuated yesterday at 3 PM after a lightening strike started a forest fire that has grown to 75 hectares in size, according to a story in The Province.

The fire was sparked by lightning yesterday night at Crystal Ridge near Crystal Hut and the Crystal chairlift, said Ellie Dupont, coastal fire information officer. . . “Anytime there is a slope or a wind, it grows faster,” she explained. She was unsure of how the winds are moving on the mountain. . . . “At this point, forest service helicopters are dropping buckets of water and water bombs are en route,” said Alex Halbert, spokesperson for Whistler Blackcomb.

Blackcomb Mountain is completely closed today (July 31, 2009).

[Link: The Province and CBC.com]