B.C. Wildfire Service says crews are battling an estimated 5-hectare fire outside Cherry Creek, north of Port Alberni. Photo courtesy Twitter/B.C. Wildfire Service.
The Coastal Fire Centre is expressing concern over a suspected third human-caused fire on Vancouver Island since Sunday, the latest north of Port Alberni.
Video courtesy: David Wiwchar/Peak Radio in Port Alberni.
The North Cherry Creek fire was discovered Tuesday and is estimated to be five hectares in size.
We're responding to a ~5 ha #BCwildfire near Lacey Lake in the Beaufort Range, outside of Cherry Creek and NW of Port Alberni. 11 personnel, 2 helis on site. The fire is highly visible from #BCHwy4 & Port Alberni. Cause is being investigated but it's suspected to be human-caused pic.twitter.com/WxQFCERijJ
— BC Wildfire Service (@BCGovFireInfo) August 8, 2018
Peak Radio 93.3 reported Wednesday morning the fire was visible in the city and ash from the blaze was falling in Port Alberni.
Map of the North Cherry Creek fire, which was discovered Tuesday. Photo courtesy B.C. Wildfire Service.
Donna MacPherson from the Coastal Fire Centre says there are two helicopters and 11 firefighters on site dealing with the fire that is burning in the Beaufort Mountain range.
With a heat warning currently in effect for inland and east Vancouver Island, MacPherson says fire officials are very concerned about human-caused fires.
Those include the estimated 160-hectare Nanaimo Lakes wildfire, about 13 kilometres southwest of Nanaimo.
Even though temperatures are forecast to come down by Saturday, MacPherson says high winds and potential lightning is adding another element to worry about for containing fires, or starting new ones.
The North Cherry Creek fire is under investigation.
On Monday night, a wildfire suspected to be human-caused started on forestry land off a Turtle Lake logging road in the Alberni Valley, near Great Central Lake.
That fire is contained.
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