The Gold Valley Main wildfire burns near Zeballos on Aug. 20, 2018. File photo.
The BC Wildfire Service said as a result of recent rainfall and firefighting efforts, all wildfires on Vancouver Island are considered under control.
Coastal Fire Centre spokeswoman Dorthe Jakobsen said the wildfires are not expected to grow any larger.
The Atluck Main Road, west of Atluck Lake and east of Tahsish-Kwois Provincial Park, has reopened as have all roads that make up the Alice Lake Loop between Port Alice and Port McNeill.
The Keogh Main Road and the Merry Widow Main Road have also been reopened, and all recreation sites that were affected by those road closures are now open.
However, due to rain and wind over the past few days, there may be downed trees or branches on the road. Drivers are asked to use caution on this road. The public is also asked to not stop in areas near forest service roads where wildfires have burned as there may be falling trees and debris.
There are still 52 wildfires still burning on northern Vancouver Island, between Campbell River and Port McNeill. Zeballos is still under a local state of emergency that was issued on Aug. 16 due to the nearby Gold Valley Main wildfire . On Sept. 8, an evacuation order was issued due to landslide risk.
The evacuation order is in effect for all houses north of Sugarloaf Bridge, all houses on the east side of Maquinna Avenue North of Pandora Crescent, and all houses on Pandora Crescent that are east of Maquinna Avenues.
Houses on the east side of Ferris Road at the addresses 402-B, 404, and 406 are also included in the order.
Jakobsen said the BC Wildfire Service will continue to monitor all wildfires and Vancouver Island and crews will start mopping up in the next few weeks. The campfire ban for the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes Vancouver Island, has been lifted.
Bans remain on larger Category 2 and Category 3 open fires with the exception of the “fog zone” along the west coast of Vancouver Island.
CHEK News
