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A new wildfire has grown out of control on Vancouver Island, near Port Alberni, B.C.
About 300 people have been evacuated from a nearby campground and marina, and the fire has knocked out power for more than 500 B.C. Hydro customers southwest of the blaze.
The Mount Underwood wildfire is located about 12 kilometres south of Port Alberni, a city of around 19,000 people about 60 kilometres northwest of Nanaimo.
The fire was discovered Monday and grew quickly throughout the day, ballooning from around 50 hectares at 7 p.m. PT to 630 hectares three hours later.
“It grew massive,” said Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor John Jack, chair for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, speaking on CBC’s On The Island Tuesday morning.
He noted the fire has grown larger than the nearby Wesley Ridge fire was at its height.
An aggressive wildfire detected Monday night has forced up to 300 people to flee a campground near Port Alberni. The B.C. Wildfire Service says the Mount Underwood fire is displaying aggressive behaviour, forcing a nearby road closure. Meera Bains reports.
Jack said the road is closed between Bamfield, an unincorporated community with about 300 year-round residents, and Port Alberni.
He said people are advised to use the Cowichan route if they need to get to the Bamfield area.
Jack said residents of Bamfield and Anacla, a Huu-ay-aht First Nations community, are resilient and used to restricted access.
“Being cut off from the Port Alberni area is always a bit of a concerning situation for them, but they’re no strangers to using gravel roads to get to where they need to go,” Jack said.
“That being said, the power is out — and it’s out indefinitely. And that’s perhaps the most concerning thing.”
In a 7:15 a.m. update Tuesday, B.C. Hydro said a crew had been assigned to the outage, but no time was given for when the power may return. It’s been down since about 6 p.m. Monday.
Jack said there are no threats to Port Alberni at this time.
“That’s a good thing, and the work will continue. But smoke is going to be an issue.”
Jack recommended residents be prepared by making a “72-hour kit,” having a plan for staying in place, and monitoring verified information sources.
On Monday, the B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the blaze was displaying Rank 4 and Rank 5 fire behaviour — meaning it was an extremely vigorous surface fire and burning to the tops of trees.
Night vision helicopters and structure protection specialists were on scene, according to the BCWS.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Mount Underwood fire grows just after the Wesley Ridge fire, burning northwest of Nanaimo, was downgraded from “out of control” to “being held.”
There are currently 97 active wildfires in B.C.