A pair of wildfires that broke out in Port Alberni on Tuesday are being reviewed by BC Wildfire Service investigators.
Port Alberni Fire Chief Mike Owens says the first fire was reported west of the West Coast General Hospital around 4:30 p.m.
All on-duty and off-duty fire crews were called to the blaze, which was near the hospital and had grown to about 12 square metres (40 feet) by the time firefighters arrived.
Since the hospital is home to large oxygen cylinders, there was some concern that the fire could reach the tanks, according to Owens.
As firefighters were battling the blaze, the fire department received a report of a second fire at the southern end of Cherry Creek Road.
Since the first fire was mostly in hand, the firefighters split off into two crews, with the second fire measuring about 12 metres by 7.6 metres (40 feet by 25 feet).
Firefighters were able to suppress both fires, which were considered under control by about 6:45 p.m.
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Update: Both fires are now knocked down and crews are dealing with hotspots at both locations.
(Fire near West Coast General pictured from earlier)#BCWildfire #portalberni pic.twitter.com/Js4SKbapP9
— Port Alberni Fire (@portalbernifire) July 19, 2023
Both fires are believed to be human-caused, and impacted a mix of brush and smaller trees.
Fire investigators that were already dispatched to Port Alberni to review a wildfire on Sunday will also investigate both of Tuesday’s fires, according to Owens.
Adam Chan
