An illegal beach fire that spread to the bluff along Dallas Road early Thursday was minutes away from growing into a much more serious incident, Victoria’s fire chief says.
Fire Chief Dan Atkinson said it was fortunate that a man out for a dawn walk spotted the fire and called 911 about 5:45 a.m.
The beach fire was at the foot of the bluff and ignited the brush as it shot upward, he said.
He suspects someone might have thought the fire was extinguished, but there were live embers left behind.
He said dry conditions and wind combined to speed up the spread of the blaze. Crews fought the fire from above and below and had it out in about 90 minutes.
Since a warm spell began in recent weeks, the department has been responding on average to two outdoor fires a day, Atkinson said.
“One hundred per cent of those are human-caused, and 100 per cent of those are preventable.”
Some are beach fires and some are caused by things like smouldering cigarettes, said Atkinson, adding having to deal with two a day is unusual.
The fires can put residents at risk, and when they’re at the beach, they can harm coastal ecosystems, he said.
Atkinson expressed frustration that some people continue to be careless or ignore signs that say beach fires are prohibited — especially when a large wildfire is burning in the Sooke area.
The Old Man Lake Wildfire east of Sooke, discovered Monday, has grown to 169 hectares and is still classified as out-of-control. Atkinson noted that it’s believed to be human-caused, as well.
“Collectively, as the public, we can make sure we can do better,” he said.
Open fires are not allowed at any time of year in Victoria, said Atkinson, adding propane-fueled fire rings are also a no-no in parks and on beaches in the city.
“Under the Parks Regulation Bylaw there is a provision for a CSA-approved barbecue for the purpose of cooking food only,” he said. “Anything beyond that requires a permit from the director of parks, and I’ve been personally assured that that would not be issued at this time of year.”
Atkinson said “fire happened here” signs are being posted at fire scenes like the one on Dallas Road to raise awareness.
The Victoria incident followed a grass fire of just under half an hectare in the Otter Point area on Wednesday afternoon.
The Otter Point Fire Department said the fire was fast-moving over “tinder-dry” ground, but mutual-aid partners from Sooke, East Sooke and Metchosin helped bring it under control.
