Forest fires are still raging 60 to 70 kilometres west of the Pemberton valley, where Pemberton Music Festival organizers are busy setting up the stage for their big event, taking place July 16-19.
Despite a wave of rumours predicting the festival may be cancelled due to smoke and fire hazards, organizers HUKA Entertainment reiterated Wednesday afternoon that there was no plan to do so.
“While air quality is a concern, the current wildfire situation does not warrant cancellation of the festival,” a press release from the festival stated. The release also said that “elected officials and senior staff from the Lil’wat Nation, Village of Pemberton and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District have met and agreed that the 2015 Pemberton Music Festival will proceed as planned.”
The festival, in its second year under the HUKA banner, is slated to feature more than 100 artists including headliners The Black Keys, Tiesto, Weezer, Jane’s Addiction, Kendrick Lamar and electronic artists Skrillex and Diplo’s Jack U project.
The festival’s director of community relations, Maureen Douglas, said the event is expected to draw 27,000 people a day. About 20,000 people a day are expected to camp at the site.
The smoke is being caused by two wildfires west of Pemberton. The Boulder Creek wildfire, and the Elaho wildfire.
“Conditions are dynamic and can change quickly; the three local governments are monitoring the situation closely,” Wednesday’s press release said. “Staff and officials from the three jurisdictions are meeting daily and receiving regular information updates and advice from the BC Wildfire Management Branch, technical experts, regional and First Nations health authorities and senior Ministry staff.”
The festival represents a huge economic boon for Pemberton. Last year the festival spent an estimated $2.1 million with local businesses. Another $375,000 was spent on lodging.
“The Pemberton Music Festival is an important event both for our community, and for the entire region,” Chief Lucinda Phillips of the Lil’wat Nation said in the release.
“The safety of the public is our number 1 concern,” SLRD board chairman Jack Crompton added. “All three jurisdictions are working together and our Emergency Management Team is assessing the situation daily.”
With a file from John Mackie
