Vancouver Island wildfire grows, air quality advisories expanded

The Mount Underwood fire near Port Alberni continues to grow, but rain in the forecast is offering some hope for relief.

A ravenous wildfire that’s burning out of control on Vancouver Island has grown to more than 34 square kilometres as hundreds of properties remain under evacuation orders and alerts.

The Mount Underwood wildfire has triggered local states of emergency in nearby Port Alberni, as well as in the Tseshaht First Nation and parts of the Cowichan Valley Regional District.

“The fire has spread closer to the community – we are aware of that, the public is aware of that,” Port Albern Mayor Sharie Minions told reporters Thursday, stressing that there is no imminent threat to the community.

“If there was, an (evacuation) order would be issued,” said Minions.

Port Alberni city staff handed out warnings to homeowners about clearing fire hazards including tall grass, dried leaves and other flammable debris, and anything combustible.

“Now more than ever we want to make sure our community is as fire safe as possible,” said Minions.

Meanwhile, the flames have cut off electricity and road access to the community of Bamfield.

The power outage, which has affected more than 500 homes and businesses in and around Bamfield since the fire was discovered Monday, is expected to continue as BC Hydro crews cannot enter the area until it has been deemed safe, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District said in a statement.

Bob Beckett, the regional district’s director, said the blaze comes at a time when visitors would usually be flocking to the area.

“Given the tourism we have, the hikers, the kayaking, and the salmon sport-fishing, this is going to be devastating for our community,” he said.

The Bamfield region is still accessible to residents via logging roads through Youbou, but the Cowichan Regional Emergency Operations Centre says the route is intended for essential travel only.

Environment Canada has expanded its air quality advisories related to the wildfire as billowing smoke is expected to blanket inland and eastern Vancouver Island, as well as the Sunshine Coast and northern Gulf Islands, over the next 24 to 48 hours.

The Vancouver Island health authority said in a social media post Thursday that anyone experiencing coughing, shortness of breath or chest discomfort as a result of the smoke should seek medical advice by calling 811.

The Mount Underwood fire, approximately 12 kilometres south of Port Alberni, has grown rapidly since it was discovered, displaying what the B.C. Wildfire Service described as “unusual fire behaviour for wildfires on Vancouver Island.”

Karley Desrosiers, a fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre, says the fire is not currently threatening the communities of Port Alberni, Bamfield and Youbou, but dry and windy conditions, along with steep, mountainous terrain, have made efforts to control the blaze difficult.

“We are in the midst of a severe drought and the island has seen very little rain since the end of June,” Desrosiers said Wednesday afternoon.

Rain in the forecast

Some rain is expected to arrive in the region Thursday evening, with 15 to 40 millimetres forecast for the Port Alberni area, according to the wildfire service.

“The rain will assist our response efforts, however, it will take significant rain to have a meaningful impact,” the agency said.

The Mount Underwood fire is burning less than 20 kilometres southwest of the Wesley Ridge fire, which forced the evacuation of several hundred homes on the north side of Cameron Lake, east of Port Alberni.

The fire is one of about 90 active blazes across B.C., with five classified as burning out of control.

With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Rob Buffam