Tuesday August 12, 2025 | NANAIMO, BC [Posted at 12:20 pm]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
See Video of the Wesley Ridge Wildfire – Aug 10, 2025 [BC Wildfire Service]
Fire was declared ‘Held’ on August 11, 2025
To report a wildfire call: 1-800-663-5555 or *555 on a cellphone (download the app to send a photo with your report)
The Wesley Ridge Wildfire on central Vancouver Island is now 12 days in.
Yesterday BC Wildfire Service changed the incident status from ‘out of control’ to ‘held’ at 588 hectares. T
oday the fire is still at 588 hectares and is ‘no longer a wildfire of note’.
Personnel working the fire:
Working on the fire are 197 personnel, with 39 incident management team individuals. There are nine helicopters and 11 pieces of heavy equipment on the job.
Today is another hot day with temperatures reaching 32°C and relative humidity is at 35 to 50 percent, as reported by Madison Dahl, Information Officer, BC Wildfire Service in today’s media information call.
Smoke is expected to continue “for quite a while”, said Dahl.
This is the last regular media update for this wildfire. Dahl said today. Any further information will be released as necessary.
Evacuation orders and alerts:
As reported today by the Regional District of Nanaimo Emergency Operations Centre Director Doug Holmes, there are 37 properties in Little Qualicum River Village below 1726 Warn Way that are still on evacuation order.
Yesterday evening (August 11) at 5:30 pm the evacuation order was lifted for Little Qualicum River Falls Provincial Park — though the “dangerous area” of Little Qualicum River Provincial Park remains on evacuation alert, said Holmes.
The remaining properties in Little Qualicum River Village above 1726 Warn Way remain on evacuation order; 353 are already on evacuation alert below 1726 Warn Way (near Spider Lake).
There are 610 properties plus the Little Qualicum River Provincial day park that remain on evacuation alert.
Yesterday, it was recommended that people returning to their properties after evacuation should stay on their properties and not venture into areas where there is still some active smoke (which indicates hot spots without flames).
As of today (August 12), 43 households are currently receiving ESS support, as well as 99 evacuees, said Doug Holmes, Emergency Operations Centre Director, Regional District of Nanaimo today.
He also reported that as of August 8, there was a count of 695 evacuees who had received ESS support at some time during the event (now a period of 12 days since the wildfire was first reported on July 31).
Lakes still being used by aircraft for water:
Cameron, Horne and Spider Lakes are in continued use for helicopters to scoop up water. People stood stay off the water.
Nine helicopters are being used during management of the Wesley Ridge wildfire.
More information:
- Regional District of Nanaimo Current Alerts: rdn.bc.ca/current-alerts
- Emergency Operations Call Centre: 250-390-6538 (8 am to 8 pm)
- For re-entry information for evacuees, go to: rdn.bc.ca/wesleyridgewildfire
- BC Govt – Evacuee Registration and Assistance – 1-800-387-4258 Emergency Support Services | ess.gov.bc.ca
- To report a wildfire call: 1-800-663-5555 or *555 on a cellphone (download the app to send a photo with your report)
Wildfires across Canada:
This summer there have been wildfires in many parts of Canada.
The Wesley Ridge Wildfire has been the only one of note on Vancouver Island.
Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been hard hit by wildfires this summer.
Hot dry weather has contributed to wildfires being difficult to control and extinguish.
===== RELATED:
- Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni is growing quickly (August 13, 2025)
- Wesley Ridge wildfire declared ‘held’ on August 11 (August 11, 2025)
- Vancouver Island: Wesley Ridge wildfire update Aug 10 (August 10, 2025)
- Wesley Ridge wildfire Aug 9: continues out of control (August 9, 2025)
- Wesley Ridge wildfire Aug 8: continues out of control (August 8, 2025)
- Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island continues out of control (August 6, 2025)
- Wesley Ridge wildfire continues out of control (August 4, 2025)
- Wildfire near Nanaimo still out of control (August 3, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT | VANCOUVER ISLAND