Friday August 15, 2025 | PORT ALBERNI, BC [Posted at 2:57 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends | Next official Mount Underwood Wildfire update on August 19, 2025 [See Wildfire News section]
The Mount Underwood wildfire (Fire Number V71498) burning south of Port Alberni is technically still out of control but rain overnight and today has helped reduced the spread of flames.
The ‘wildfire of note’ is located about 8 km south of the boundary of the City of Port Alberni.
The wildfire was first discovered on August 11.
Rain last night and today:
There was 17.4 mm of rain last night along with cooler overnight temperatures than seen in previous days.
Today the total rainfall is expected to amount to 10 to 30 mm, said Karley Desrosiers, BC Wildfire Service fire information officer with Incident Management Team 5.
Fire size:
As of yesterday, the fire was 3,406 hectares in size. There is no fire size update today, due to hazardous conditions created by the rainfall and poor visibility in foggy conditions this morning, said Desrosiers today.
Meanwhile, there was an expanded fire footprint overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, and again last night into today, said Desrosiers.
Background on size:
- At 6:18 pm on Wednesday August 13, the size of the fire was reported by BC Wildfire Service as 2,156 hectares.
- On Thursday morning August 14 (11:13 am) the fire size was 3,406 hectares in size; an increase of 1,250 hectares overnight.
- Prior to today’s rain, the fire was 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.
Winds today are about 10 to 20 kph with gusts up to 30 kph.
Values to protect:
Control of the fire perimeter is now being focused on the northwest corner due to values in that area that require protection, said the BC Wildfire Services rep today.
Previous burning areas on steep slopes were the focus of control line work.
- The fire is also extending to the southwest.
- The trajectory of the fire’s duration and/or expansion can’t be determined at this time due to extensive rainfall, as explained by Desrosiers today.
- No injuries or loss of infrastructure have been reported.
Personnel and equipment:
- Today 124 wildfire firefighters are working on the Mount Underwood fire, and more are available.
- Eleven helicopters are available but are not flying in the rain. Their role of dropping water onto flames is not as necessary in rainy conditions.
- The work of crews on the ground is particularly important right now, said Desrosiers.
- The safety of crews is important given the danger of trees falling due to wet ground conditions and impact by wind.
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.
Alerts and Orders:
Evacuation alerts and orders are in place, unchanged since yesterday.
- 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.
Population:
The population of Port Alberni is about 18,000 people, with a count of about 31,000 in the wider region.
Drought:
Temperatures were in the high 20°C range, into the low 30s, during the first few days of the wildfire; temperatures were a bit cooler yesterday and now today.
Vancouver Island has been in a drought condition for a few years now. Reduced winter precipitation and even heavy rainfall in a short period (like today) never quite brings spring moisture levels back to normal. Dry ground can be hardened and not able to readily absorb a lot of water.
===== RELATED:
- Mount Underwood wildfire expands by 1,250 hectares overnight (August 14, 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