Thursday August 14, 2025 | PORT ALBERNI, BC [Posted at 12:41 pm | Updated 4:19 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Mount Underwood wildfire (Fire Number V71498) burning south of Port Alberni is still out of control.
There was an expanded footprint overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, and again last night into today.
- At 6:18 pm last night, the size of the fire was reported by BC Wildfire Service as 2,156 hectares.
- The fire is now 3,406 hectares in size (as of 11:13 am today August 14). That’s a growth in size of 1,250 hectares.
- The fire is expected to grow on its eastern and northern flanks, according to the BC Wildfire Service.
Conditions have been dry this season as Vancouver Island continues in drought. But some rain is forecast for the region starting tomorrow.
Second fire in two weeks:
The size of the Mount Underwood Wildfire is, incidentally, about seven times the size of the Wesley Ridge Wildfire to the east of Port Alberni) that caught so much attention over 12 days earlier this month.
This Mount Underwood Fire is among the fifth-largest wildfires dealt with by the BC Wildfire Service on Vancouver Island.
Fire of note:
The wildfire was first reported on Monday August 11 and is a wildfire of note.
Alerts and Orders:
The wildfire is happening about 8 km away from Port Alberni, so alerts and orders are in place.
- There are now three evacuation alerts (issued on August 13 by the City of Port Alberni, Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot, and Tseshaht First Nation).
- There are now two evacuation orders (issued by Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot on August 12 and Cowichan Valley Regional District on August 13).
But there are no current area restrictions near this incident, according to the BC Wildfire Service page on this fire.
In recent days, the City of Port Alberni, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District and the Tseshaht First Nation have issued local states of emergency.
Action on the ground and in the air:
There are 64 firefighting personnel on the job today, with five helicopters, structure protection crews, and a heavy equipment strike tema.
In yesterday’s update there was also mentin of five skimmers, a birddog plane, three initial attack crews and three unit crews are responding to the Mount Underwood fire.
Air quality:
Due to wildfire smoke, an air quality advisory has been issued for inland Vancouver Island, east Vancouver Island from Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay and for the Sunshine Coast from Saltery Bay to Powell River.
Smoke levels are high in Inland VancouverIsland. Island Health advises that if people have coughing, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort, that they should “slow down” and get medical advice by calling 8-1-1.
Population:
The population of Port Alberni is about 18,000 people, with a count of about 31,000 in the wider region.
Drought:
Temperatures have been in the high 20°C range, into the low 30s in the first few days of the wildfire; temperatures are a bit cooler today and some rain is expected tomorrow.
Vancouver Island has been in a drought condition for a few years now. Reduced winter precipitation never quite brings spring moisture levels back to normal.
===== RELATED:
- Rain helps moderate Mount Underwood wildfire (August 15, 2025)
- Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni is growing quickly (August 13, 2025)
- Day 12: Wesley Ridge wildfire no longer ‘of note’ (August 12, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT | VANCOUVER ISLAND