Monday August 11, 2025 | NANAIMO, BC [Posted at 12:20 pm | Updated 12:31 pm]
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
See Video of the Wesley Ridge Wildfire – Aug 10, 2025 [BC Wildfire Service]
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 11 days in and BC Wildfire Service has changed the incident status from ‘out of control’ to ‘held’.
Being ‘held’ means a wildfire that is projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current perimeter, control line or boundary.
The footprint of the fire that was first reported on July 31 at 245 hectares had not increased very much in the last three days (571, 580, 590 hectares across August 8 to 10) as firefighters worked to contained perimeters. Today’s official wildfire size is 588 hectares.
Evacuation orders and alerts:
As reported today by the Regional District of Nanaimo, there are 37 properties still on evacuation order and 610 properties are on evacuation alert.
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).
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 helicopter was the recent count of helicopters 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 that are stubborn to control and extinguish.
===== RELATED:
- 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