BC Wildfire is asking drivers travelling on Highway 4 this August Long to proceed with caution and stay focused on the road as crews continue to work on containing a wildfire on the opposite side of Cameron Lake.
Drive BC also warns that there is reduced visibility due to smoke.
“The highway is open, but no stopping permitted,” reads a Aug. 1 update on Drive BC time stamped 3 p.m.
“Do not stop, then we are just amplifying issues,” re-iterates said Coastal Fire Centre Information Officer Kimberly Kelly. “We don’t want people to looky loo. Just carrying on your way.”
The Wesley Ridge wildfire was discovered on Thursday morning, July 31. Evacuation orders and alerts have been issued by the Regional District of Nanaimo for the north side of Cameron Lake, including Chalet Road near Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.
In 24 hours the wildfire doubled in size. As of Aug. 1 at 12:45 p.m., BC Wildfire said it was 125-hectares. As is the case with 95 per cent of forest fires in B.C., the blaze is believed to be human-caused.
“It’s hot and dry out there and particularly on the steep slopes, we actually need that fire to move around so we can get that containment line there,” Kelly explained.
“Growth isn’t necessarily bad,” she continued. “We do need it to burn to a place that we can work it, and we can’t work it on the ridge, it’s too steep. It’s too steep to put crews on there. It’s not safe, so we can only attack it with our aviation resources, which really is meant to cool the fire behaviour. Aviation resources don’t put wildfires out, crews do.”
Five helicopters and airtankers are water bombing Wesley Ridge from above, according to BC Wildfire. Coombs and Dashwood fire departments are engaged, and there are currently more than 60 firefighting personnel responding to the Wesley Ridge wildfire.
“Overnight growth was cross-slope, east to west between the lake and the ridge overnight. Crews, heavy equipment and aviation resources continued operations overnight. Structure Protection resources are enroute. Tactics will focus on the north flank of the fire,” says BC Wildfire.
Kelly says there is a downward trend in temperature over the next couple days, like a morning dew, but “the weather is prediction, not a promise.”
To report smoke or fires, call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 or through the BCWS mobile app on your smart device.
For up-to-date information about driving conditions, visit: https://www.drivebc.ca/.
