Wildfire Forces Evacuations for Nearly 400 Properties and Park on Vancouver Island
A fast-growing wildfire on Vancouver Island has forced nearly 400 properties and a provincial park to be put under an evacuation order. The fire is burning out of control near Cameron Lake, about 50 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo, a city with around 120,000 people.
The Wesley Ridge wildfire has now spread to about 373 hectares, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS). It is believed the fire was started by human activity. This blaze is one of nearly 150 wildfires currently burning across British Columbia.
Rebecca Taylor, a spokesperson for the Regional District of Nanaimo, said that most of the 393 properties under evacuation order are homes. People living there must leave immediately. Another 238 properties are on evacuation alert, meaning residents should be ready to leave at any time.
Little Qualicum Falls Park is also under an evacuation order. The park includes campgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic areas. B.C. Parks is asking all visitors to leave and stay away until it is safe to return.
Highway 4, which is the main east-west road across Vancouver Island, remains open. However, Douglas Holmes, who is in charge of emergency operations for the district, asked drivers not to stop along the highway to watch the fire. “If you’re travelling on Highway 4, keep moving. We need to keep the road clear for emergency vehicles,” he said.
So far, no homes have been reported lost to the fire. However, some firefighting equipment and railway trestles have been damaged. Fire crews are focusing on the northeast side of the fire, which is closest to homes. They are not expecting much rain over the long weekend, which could make firefighting harder.
Poor Air Quality in Other Areas
Elsewhere in B.C., a fire south of Lytton called the Cantilever Bar wildfire has caused poor air quality. Two properties in the Lytton First Nation area have been evacuated. This fire has grown to about 12.6 square kilometres, but didn’t expand much overnight.
Because of smoke, air quality warnings have been issued for the Fraser Canyon, South Thompson, 100 Mile House, Cariboo (including Williams Lake), and the Fort Nelson area in northeast B.C.
In addition to wildfire smoke, thunderstorms are forecast for much of eastern B.C. Thousands of lightning strikes have already started new fires. In just two days, the number of fires in B.C. doubled. Karley Desrosiers of BCWS said that while rain with lightning reduces the chance of new fires, the dry conditions still make fire starts possible.
Harrison Lake Campers Urged to Stay Away
Meanwhile, the Bear Creek wildfire near Harrison Lake in the Fraser Valley has led to road closures and an evacuation alert for North Cascade Bay. This is a popular area for campers, but officials are urging people to stay away during the long weekend. The wildfire has made the Harrison East Forest Service Road dangerous, with falling rocks and fire activity. The road will stay closed until further notice.
