Photo: BC Wildfire Service

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

An evacuation alert issued for homes near the Cecil Hill wildfire in Pender Harbour has been lifted.

The fire grew to about nine hectares Tuesday, but did not grow any further overnight, the BC Wildfire Service says.

Rain has helped conditions, but the fire is still considered out of control, CTV News reports.

Meanwhile, the Strip Creek fire along the Sea to Sky Highway is now completely contained.

– with files from CTV Vancouver

ORIGINAL: 6:20 a.m.

A wildfire burning not far from homes in Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast has grown to nine hectares in size.

The BC Wildfire Service say the growth Tuesday was due to the fire spreading downhill Monday night.

The ground fire is burning on steep terrain under a heavy tree canopy.

On Tuesday, seven helicopters and a skimmer group assisted from the air as 49 firefighters fought the fire on the ground.

The most active part of the fire is in the southeast corner, near the top of the hill, the wildfire service says.

Crews have laid hose around almost half of the fire and will continue today.

An evacuation alert remains in place for homes at the base of the Cecil Hill area.