A wildfire near Mount Arrowsmith, about 11 kilometres southwest of Coombs, is now classified as being held.
The Lockwood Creek fire, originally deemed out of control, was detected about 8 p.m. Sunday in a remote location and is not threatening any buildings.
The original estimate of two hectares was later reducted to 1.14 hectares.
Two B.C. Wildfire Service initial-attack crews and another nine-person crew responded to the fire Monday morning. Mosaic Forest Management is supporting them with three water tenders and personnel.
Crews were in cool and cloudy conditions into the afternoon.
Flames from the fire were “highly visible” Sunday night, Coastal Fire Centre information officer Kimberly Kelly said Monday.
She said there have been fewer than half the number of wildfires this fire season compared with last year in the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland.
There have been 148 fires so far this year, well down from the 352 fires in the 2023 season.
Kelly said the sharp reduction in fires is largely weather-related.
“We really didn’t see the lighting that we saw the year before.”
She added, however, that there has also been a significant reduction in human-caused wildfires.
