Sunday August 10, 2025 | NANAIMO, BC [Updated August 11, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
See Video of the Wesley Ridge Wildfire – Aug 10, 2025 [BC Wildfire Service]
Wesley Ridge Wildfire now HELD at 588 hectares (Aug 11)
The Wesley Ridge Wildfire on central Vancouver Island is now 10 days in.
The footprint of the fire that was first reported on July 31 at 245 hectares has not increased very much in the last three days (571, 580, 590 hectares) as firefighters work to contain perimeters.
The wildfire is still being called “out of control” but the perimeters are in rough rocky terrain where the fuel is not as much as in wide open forested areas. Nevertheless, this is a hot dry summer in continued drought conditions so hot dry days will allow fires to advantageously gain ground.
Nine helicopter are currently in use during management of the Wesley Ridge wildfire.
Today high has reached about 27°C. The relatively humidity was considered to be 40 to 50 percent in this morning’s update to media. Wind was forecast as from the north/northwest at 10 to 20 kph, with gusts up to 30 kph. Gusts will of course help flames grow.
Today BC Wildfire Service rattled off their numbers and statistics from their incident notes reports. Their updates to media are held daily.
The evacuee return date of August 11 is still on track. Structures (housing and critical infrastructure) were a key focus of fire protection crews and it was safer for people to be out of their homes.
Three lakes are still being used by water-scooping aircraft: Horne Lake, Cameron Lake and Spider Lake. For safety reasons, BC Wildfire Service needs people to not be on the water and to stay out of the way of these aircraft.
Pets can be accommodated long-term if people are still displaced.
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)
===== RELATED:
- Wesley Ridge wildfire now held at 588 hectares (August 11, 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