Fire crews are battling a 1.1-hectare wildfire burning on Maple Mountain in North Cowichan.
Six fire departments are working at the site, along with three firefighters and three helicopters from the Coastal Fire Centre.
It was first reported around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the crews deployed include the Crofton, Duncan and Cowichan fire departments.
The Municipality of North Cowichan says a small number of residents have been asked to temporarily leave or be prepared to leave their homes to allow for more effective firefighting. No large-scale evacuation is required at this time.
The fire is located approximately 1-Kilometre east of the parking lot for the Municipal Forest Reserve on Osborne Bay Road. In the event that a large-scale evacuation is required, alerts will be sent out through the Municipality’s eAlert system.
You can sign up for the Municipality’s eAlert system at: www.northcowichan.ca/eAlert.
A photo of the smoke rising from a fire burning on Maple Mountain near Crofton
The RCMP have closed off Osborne Bay Road. The B.C. Wildfire service says it is suspected to be human-caused.
The Cowichan Bay Volunteer Fire Department has one engine at the fire, and one stationed in Duncan to provide local coverage for other emergencies.
The Mill Bay Fire department is now stationed in the Cowichan fire department to also provide local coverage.
A witness says the fire seems to be growing.
Photo: Doris Mutch
The photo of the smoke from the wildfire burning in Crofton. Photo: twitter- @ffsnapper
Maple Mountain is just north-east of Duncan and south of Crofton (Google)
More to come
Julian Kolsut
