Firefighters are battling two new smaller-sized wildfires on Vancouver Island — one on the west coast and the other in the northern region at Atluck Lake.
The Atluck Lake fire, west of Woss, measured 0.1 hectares on Sunday afternoon. It is in a “pretty remote area,” said Donna MacPherson, fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service.
Fire crews flew in helicopters to another fire near Caycuse, 27 kilometres north of Port Renfrew, after it was reported Saturday evening, MacPherson said. They returned on Sunday.
The Caycuse fire is basically burning in one tree but parts of it are underground, MacPherson said. Crews can see smoking earth, indicating it is in the soil, as well as some open flames.
It is measured at just 0.0009, the smallest size accepted by the wildfire service’s system, she said.
Deeper soils are typically found in coastal area of B.C. than in the interior, MacPherson said. The large trees found here, with their big roots, can act as a conductor for underground fire.
Another fire near Port Alberni is considered under control while a fire near the boundary of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park has been declared out.
However, the Port Alberni Fire Department was busy responding to smaller fires on Sunday. Two fires in Dry Creek Park were put out, as were two other small fires in town. About 6:30 p.m.the department said members were at the scene of a bire in Roger Creek Park off the Scott Kenny trail. A posted video showed flames licking through the undergrowth.
MacPherson said that Vancouver Island remains under a “high” danger rating for fire, other than a small area near Barkley Sound on the west coast, which is considered “moderate” because of the foggy marine conditions. Some of the Gulf Islands remain in the “extreme” danger category.
The Island is facing the potential of lightning later Sunday and on Monday, she said. “The risk increases as we go forward.” Lightning is a major cause of forest fires.
Environment Canada is forecasting a high of 25 C on Monday, dropping to 14 C at night for Greater Victoria.
Nanaimo’s forecast calls for a high of 27 C on Monday, with a low of 16 C at night.
