Thursday August 21, 2025 | PORT ALBERNI, BC [Posted at 2:22 pm | Updated August 23, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
The Mount Underwood wildfire (V71498) near Port Alberni is now designated as “being held”.
The size of the fire is now 3,548 hectares, as it was yesterday.
The fire was first discovered on August 11 and grew to a size of just over 3,600 at its peak activity.
Personnel have been working the incident with a focus on the north and southwest flanks to keep the fire contained within its current perimeter.
There is now just one evacuation alert and one evacuation order, less than in previous days. Both have been issued by the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot.
Power outage to August 30 or longer:
BC Hydro is dealing with significant damage to poles and lines (including a challenging 1.5 km stretch that remains inaccessible due to slope instability).
BC Hydro expected to have their restoration work for 528 customers done by August 30 but is now expecting the work to take a few more days beyond that.
===== RELATED:
- Mount Underwood wildfire update Aug 20: steady size, less evacuation (August 20, 2025)
- Mount Underwood wildfire update on August 19 (August 19, 2025)
- BC Hydro on track for 2-week power restoration after Mount Underwood wildfire damage (August 19, 2025)
- Mount Underwood wildfire damage to BC Hydro infrastructure could take two weeks to repair (August 16, 2025)
- Rain helps moderate Mount Underwood wildfire (August 15, 2025)
- Mount Underwood wildfire expands by 1,250 hectares overnight (August 14, 2025)
- Mount Underwood wildfire near Port Alberni is growing quickly (August 13, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT | BC HYDRO | POWER OUTAGES