Two small wildfires suspected to be human-caused discovered on Vancouver Island

Two small wildfires suspected to be human-caused discovered on Vancouver Island
CHEK

File photo (B.C. Wildfire Service)

File photo (B.C. Wildfire Service)

The B.C. Wildfire Service says four small fires were discovered on Vancouver Island this weekend.

Out of the two suspected to be human-caused, one is burning a few kilometres south of Shawnigan Lake, and one 20 Kilometres north-west of Courtenay near Mt. Washington and Wolf Lake.

Two other fires were discovered Sunday, both also reported around 100 square metres. One is 12 kilometres south of Port Alberni near the China Creek Campground and Marina.

The other is west of Nanaimo near Shady Mile Way, and is under control. Local fire crews and the B.C. Wildfire Service are fighting the fire along with assistance from a helicopter.

No suspected cause of those blazes have been released.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue chief  Karen Fry says it appears to have originated from a stump pile, and that some crews are now clearing from the scene.

B.C. Wildfire Service

The wildfire south of Shawnigan Lake (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. Wildfire Service

The wildfire north-west of Courtenay. (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. Wildfire Service

The wildfire 12 kilometres south of Port Alberni (B.C. Wildfire Service)

B.C. Wildfire Service

A wildfire that is burning west of Nanaimo is now under control  (B.C. Wildfire Service)

The stage of control for each fire is also unknown.

Much of Vancouver Island is under a moderate, high or extreme fire danger rating, and some restrictions are in place for open burning.

 

Parts of Vancouver Island are under an extreem or moderate to high fire danger rating (B.C. Wildfire Service)

(B.C. Wildfire Service)

 

Issued in May the category 2 restriction applies to open fires smaller than two metres high or three metres wide. It also applies to the burning of stubble or grass fires over an area less than 2,000 square metres, the use of fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or burning cages of any size or description, and the use of binary exploding targets for rifle target practice.

Julian KolsutJulian Kolsut

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!