A visit to the Old Man Lake wildfire site has impressed on her the “extensive scope” needed to manage the wildfire that burned out of control for eight days, says the mayor of Sooke.
Challenging terrain in Sooke Potholes Regional Park where fire broke out meant that crews were unable to access to fire’s eastern flank until parachute crews were deployed.
Maja Tait thanked the B.C. Wildfire Service for their work in protecting Sooke.
“Their expertise and perseverance have been pivotal in addressing this wildfire,” she said in a statement. “From the safety measures to the logistical challenges of allocating water and equipment to the site, even beyond the firefighting, the remarkable skills and physical feats displayed by the firefighters were evident.”
The fire is now being contained to lower-intensity fires that are mainly burning through the understory instead of reaching the entire tree canopy, Tait said.
A Saturday update from the B.C. Wildfire Service said the fire remains at 230 hectares with no appreciable growth since the fire was reclassified as “being held” and is expected to burn within existing boundaries.
About 40 people are working to contain the fire, with two helicopters continuing to drop water from Shawnigan Lake.
Trails and parks in the area remain closed.
