A fast-growing wildfire near Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island is now burning out of control and has doubled in size. Fire officials say it has reached 2.45 square kilometers as of Saturday.
The fire is located on the north side of Cameron Lake, around 60 kilometers from Nanaimo. According to the BC Wildfire Service, the steep, rocky terrain is making it hard for crews to reach and contain the blaze.
Fire information officer Christi Howes said in a press conference that crews are working hard on the ground and in the air. Five helicopters, air tankers, and skimmers are all part of the firefighting response.
“We’ve been throwing a surge of resources at this fire throughout the day and evening,” said Howes. She added that both wildfire and structural protection teams are involved in the efforts.
Emergency officials have ordered the evacuation of 191 properties. Another 283 properties are on alert in case the fire spreads further, said Douglas Holmes, the emergency operations director for the Regional District of Nanaimo.
The fire is believed to be human-caused. It was first reported on Thursday and has grown quickly since. Winds are changing direction often in the area, which is making things worse for firefighting teams. The steep and rocky landscape also limits access.
This fire is one of many currently active across British Columbia. Over the last few days, more than 48,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the province. Many of them hit areas in Kamloops, Cariboo, and Prince George.
The Prince George Fire Centre alone saw over 33,000 lightning strikes. In the last 24 hours, 44 new fires have been discovered. Most of them were caused by lightning.
Environment Canada issued more than a dozen thunderstorm watches for Saturday. The warnings covered large parts of British Columbia’s Interior.
Karley Desrosiers, another fire information officer, said conditions now are better than they were during the last major fire surge. Temperatures are not as high, and humidity levels have improved.
“Even in areas where there’s no rain, we’re seeing higher humidity than earlier in the week,” she explained. Desrosiers also said some areas may get heavy local rain, which could help reduce fire activity.
Still, storms could bring strong winds, hail, and downpours. Forecasters say these could make firefighting harder in some regions.
The heat warning in B.C. has now been lifted. But smoke from wildfires has led to special air quality statements in many areas.
In Lytton, B.C., a wildfire south of the town has seen only small growth. However, an evacuation order from the Lytton First Nation remains in place. Near Harrison Lake in the Fraser Valley, the Bear Creek fire also remains active and under alert.
There has been little to no rainfall in these areas, so fire crews are preparing for more possible growth in the coming days.
As of Saturday afternoon, the BC Wildfire Service reported 142 active wildfires in the province. Crews across B.C. are continuing to respond to each one based on threat levels and available resources.
