Wildfires continue to burn all across the province
Posted July 5, 2015 9:31 am.
Last Updated July 5, 2015 10:12 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A wildfire two kilometres west of Sechelt has grown to 80 hectares this weekend and is 40 per cent contained. It is believed to be a human-caused fire and an evacuation alert is in place.
A fast-moving and aggressive wildfire has also prompted an evacuation order near Port Alberni. The fire broke out at Sproat Lake Provincial Park, jeopardizing cabins along the lake’s edge.
Donna MacPherson is with the Coastal Fire Service. “Some of the cabins have a road access but some are by boat access only so the RCMP are helping us to get those people out of the way and safe.”
Meantime, the District of Port Hardy has issued an evacuation order for about 100 homes because of a 16-hectare wildfire.
Port Hardy Mayor Hand Bood says there are several helicopters helping to bring the flames under control. “The fire this morning is 20 per cent contained. It’s now a low smoldering type fire. There is no wind here this morning. The good news is the 20 per cent containment is the area that is closest to the two roads that we evacuated, so we are making some headway.”
Extreme fire behaviour due to gusty winds and drought conditions led to significant growth of the Elaho wildfire, the Boulder Creek wildfire, and the Nahatlatch wildfire.
The Elaho wildfire has grown to 2000 hectares over the course of yesterday and last night. The Nahatlatch wildfire, estimated at 360 hectares yesterday morning, is now roughly 500 hectares in size.
The Boulder Creek wildfire has tripled in size and is now approximately 1500 hectares.
Yesterday, crews in Kelowna were able to contain the 55 hectare blaze 100 per cent. An evacuation order has been lifted for most of the impacted homes but Highway 33 is still down to one lane alternating traffic.
The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
