The wildfire situation on Vancouver Island continued to improve Saturday, with two more fires declared out by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
While wildfire activity is escalating across much of British Columbia, prompting new evacuation orders and alerts, conditions on Vancouver Island have eased. By Saturday evening, the number of active fires had declined and several blazes had been brought under control.
The North Island now has one wildfire burning out of control, two being held, one under control and one declared out. On southern Vancouver Island, two fires remain under control, while the Sooke wildfire has now been declared out.
Of the eight wildfires reported on the Island this week, six are believed to have been caused by lightning, one is suspected to be human-caused, and the cause of the Sooke fire remains under investigation.
North Island Wildfires
Out of Control
The only wildfire still classified as out of control is located northwest of Strathcona Provincial Park (V81131). The fire was discovered Thursday and remains approximately 0.009 hectares in size. BCWS says the size is based on the most current information available.
Lightning is believed to have sparked the blaze.
Being Held
The Island’s largest wildfire, burning near Kalpit Lake southwest of Woss and Highway 19 (V91091), has been downgraded from out of control to being held.
Discovered on July 21, the fire covers approximately 6.3 hectares. BCWS says it has shown minimal growth in recent days, poses no threat to critical infrastructure, and is currently burning as a combination of smouldering ground fire and low-intensity surface fire. Ground crews and aircraft continue suppression efforts.
A second wildfire being held is at Chute Creek (V81185), west of Highway 19 between Courtenay and Campbell River. The fire was discovered Friday and was initially reported as out of control before crews contained it. It remains about 0.009 hectares in size and is believed to have been human-caused.
Under Control
The Holiday Creek wildfire (V91099), west of the Strathcona Provincial Park Northern Woodlands, remains under control. Discovered July 22, the lightning-caused fire measures approximately 0.009 hectares, with suppression efforts continuing to prevent further spread.
Declared Out
The wildfire at the northern tip of Strathcona Provincial Park Northern Woodlands (V81137) was declared out Saturday evening.
The lightning-caused fire was discovered on July 23 and had been listed as being held earlier in the day before crews successfully extinguished it.
South Island Wildfires
Declared Out
The wildfire near Sooke (V61174), discovered Friday, has now been declared out. The fire reached approximately 0.009 hectares before being contained. Investigators are still working to determine its cause.
Under Control
The wildfire near Bear Mountain and Goldstream Provincial Park (V61138), discovered July 23, remains under control at approximately 0.009 hectares. Lightning is believed to be the cause.
The fire has prompted the temporary closure of Prospector’s Trail in Goldstream Provincial Park while suppression operations continue.
Another lightning-caused wildfire near Shawnigan Lake (V61135) also remains under control. The 0.1-hectare fire was discovered Wednesday, with ground crews and aircraft continuing to monitor the area. BCWS says there is no immediate threat to public safety or critical infrastructure.
Wildfire Activity Growing Across B.C.
Although conditions on Vancouver Island have improved, wildfire activity continues to intensify across British Columbia.
The province now has more than 120 active wildfires, including 24 new fires discovered over the past 24 hours. Nearly half are burning out of control.
BC Wildfire Service says warm, dry weather and strong winds continue to fuel aggressive fire behaviour across southern B.C., creating difficult conditions for firefighters and contributing to expanding evacuation orders and alerts.
Officials say protecting both firefighters and the public remains the top priority.
Residents are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of wildfire, even if there is no immediate threat to their community. BCWS recommends registering for local emergency notifications and discussing evacuation plans with household members before an emergency occurs.
