Out-of-control wildfire burning on Vancouver Island raises alarm

Courtesy: BCWS.

A small but concerning wildfire burning on Vancouver Island is drawing attention from provincial wildfire officials.

The British Columbia Wildfire Service says the fire, located east of Nanaimo near Fourth Lake, is currently classified as out of control, meaning it’s expected to continue spreading under current conditions.

Discovered on Tuesday, the blaze is estimated at about 0.7 hectares in size. While relatively small, officials say its behaviour and location are enough to warrant a full response.

Two initial attack crews, along with two officers and a water tender, have been deployed to the scene. Early indications suggest the fire may be human caused.

The wildfire service reports 28 active fires across the province, with two currently out of control, and approximately 124 firefighters engaged in suppression efforts.

There have been 135 wildfires reported in B.C. since April 1, with a total of 1,760 hectares burned. The wildfire agency says 93 per cent of the fires were likely caused by human activity.

The BC Wildlife dashboard says much of B.C. has been experiencing hot, dry, and sunny conditions over the past several days, drying out vegetation. Wind is expected to pick up Wednesday across much of the province, and officials say if a wildfire starts, it could grow quickly.