A sizable mountain wildfire is not currently being actively suppressed due to location.

Although the wildfire on Mount Con Reid within Strathcona Provincial Park has expanded to approximately 1,500 hectares in size, firefighting efforts are not underway primarily due to its remote location.

According to Kimberly Kelly, the information officer at the Coastal Fire Centre, the wildfire’s significant growth can be attributed to the merging of two lightning-caused fires that were previously active in the vicinity.

Last week, there were additional minor fires within the park’s mountains that, similar to the Mount Con Reid fire, were simply under observation.

Kelly explained that the B.C. Wildfire Service permits naturally ignited fires caused by lightning to continue burning as long as they pose no threat to human safety or infrastructure.

These fires are regarded as integral components of the natural ecological processes occurring within the region, according to Kelly.

Permissible under these circumstances, these fires can continue to burn until extinguished by rain or until they reach a point of potential hazard, Kelly explained.

This applies to situations where there’s a risk to human safety, or to areas of ecological significance like watersheds or habitats for endangered species.

Kelly emphasized, “Given the elevated and rugged terrain where this fire is located, these fires that are under observation serve a purpose in maintaining our ecosystem’s diversity and promoting natural rejuvenation.”

Moving to the southern part of the Island, a fire was detected on Crown land just north of Jordan River on Sunday. The fire spans approximately 0.05 hectares and is currently under control.

A fire discovered on August 1st near Tugwell Creek, in the northwest area of Sooke, is being effectively managed and covers an area of 1.85 hectares. Similarly, a fire that was reported on Quadra Island last week is also under control and spans 1.9 hectares.

The impact of fires in the Interior has led to the continuation of a smoky-skies advisory in Victoria and a significant portion of eastern Vancouver Island on Monday. However, conditions have been gradually improving, and an even more favorable outlook is anticipated for Tuesday, according to meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau from Environment Canada.

As of Monday, the air-quality health index for monitored sites on Vancouver Island indicated low-risk levels, Charbonneau added.

“Outflow winds from the Interior were pushing the smoke out toward the coast, and now we’re seeing that switch and we’re expecting a bit of a different flow pattern to bring fresher air across Vancouver Island.”

“So you’re not completely out of the woods,” she said.

According to her, there’s a slight possibility of showers in the Victoria region for Tuesday and extending into Wednesday, but the forecast doesn’t suggest significant rainfall across Vancouver Island.