Sunday August 3, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 1:28 pm PT | Updated 7:10 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Update at 7:10 pm: Traffic flow on Hwy 4 may be interrupted based on BC Wildfire Service needs.
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)
The Wesley Ridge wildfire (V71145) that started July 31 near Nanaimo is currently 389 hectares in size and is still currently out of control. The size is up from 245 hectares reported as the size yesterday.
BC Wildfire Service held a media update about this wildfire at 11:45 am today, Sunday August 3, on this BC Day long weekend.
The Zoom call media session was hosted by Madison Dahl and Bryan Zandberg, Fire Information Officers, Wesley Ridge Wildfire, BC Wildfire Service, and Douglas Holmes, Emergency Operations Centre Director, Regional District of Nanaimo.
The fire is situated between Nanaimo and Port Alberni on central Vancouver Island. It is suspected at this time to have been ‘human caused’ (i.e. not by lightning).
Details were provided about on-the-ground actions, evacuation alerts, orders and the reception centre for those affected.
Highway 4:
Highway 4 is open but drivers are asked to keep moving, do not stop, drive to conditions. Traffic conditions for Highway 4 and Highway 19 are available on DriveBC, including any closures and delays. Crews may be working alongside the highway so drivers are to proceed with caution.
Update at 7:10 pm: Traffic control personnel on Hwy 4 at the Port Alberni Summit for eastbound traffic and Chatsworth Rd for westbound traffic. Traffic flow may be interrupted based on BC Wildfire Service needs, says Ministry of Transportation and Transit.
Smoke:
Visibility is limited at this time due to wildfire smoke.
The south edge of the wildfire along Cameron Lake is burning in “inaccessible and challenging terrain with large amounts of accessible timber”. As such, it is going to continue to produce smoke as the fire consumes fuels along the slope.
“Smoke will continue to be visible when the wildfire smoke and winds align,” said Dahl.
Action on this fire:
There are 142 personnel dealing with this wildfire, as reported today by BC Wildfire Services. That includes 65 firefighters, two fallers, and 75 structural protection specialists (two task forces are on site). The Coombs and Dashwood fire services are participating to work on structural protection. Additional task forces are mobilizing to come to the incident today, said Dahl.
As of today, Incident Management Control has assumed control of the wildfire. Emergency Operations of the Regional District of Nanaimo is a coordinating and supporting agency, said Holmes. That means Nanaimo can issue orders or alerts.
Equipment on site includes seven pieces of heavy equipment, seven helicopters, and some land-based air tankers.
The Regional District of Nanaimo is working in “unified command” with BC Wildfire and RCMP support is being provided.
Action on the wildfire continues 24/7 including aircraft,heavy equipment, structural protection,and BC Wildfire ground crews. Two helicopters have night-vision technology. Overnight last night ground crews deal with fire management in all wildland urban interface areas.
Overnight progress:
Today the work on this wildfire continues to prioritize the protection of residences and critical infrastructure.
There is a focus on protecting properties and infrastructure in the Little Qualicum Village and park area on the north side of Cameron Lake, as well as identifying values and critical infrastructure in the vicinity of the wildfire.
Winds changed directions a few times overnight.
Water & ground safety:
Large scale water delivery systems are being established. Heavy equipment is working to establish control lines on workable ground.
A key goal is to create a safer working environment for ground crews.
Cameron Lake, Horne Lake and Spider Lake are being used by aircraft for water delivery. “Stay clear of any aircraft there or on adjacent lakes,” says BC Wildfire Services, as any other lakes could also be used in the response effort.
“If you are on the lake, stay close to shore,” says Holmes.
The aircraft “need plenty of room to maneouvre to do their job safely”, said Dahl, including for approach, filling and departure. “Use common sense. Keep boats away from where tankers and aircraft are operating.” Boaters are to dock immediately if they see aircraft in the area. Interference to the aircraft means a mission would be cancelled for safety regions.
Drones are not allowed in these active areas.
Evacuation orders and alerts:
Currently there are 393 residences on evacuation order. An evacuation last night (August 2) was completed by 9 pm and went “very smoothly”, said Holmes today.
There are 238 residences on evacuation alert.
People who have been evacuated should register at ess.gov.bc.ca or at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre at 747 Jones Street, Qualicum Beach (tel: 250-752-1992) which is presently open 24/7. So far, 236 people have registered. So far, 25 people are actually staying there but the number fluctuates, said Holmes, given that people are coming and going as they assess their options.
The use of this lodging is for people who don’t have other options (stay with family or friends, or contact your insurer to see what other options are available), says the Nanaimo Region Operations director.
No donations at this time:
There is no space or people to handle and manage donations, says Holmes.
“Please hold off at this time,” he said, adding that any specific needs will be publicized widely.
Weather impacts:
Today’s high is expected to reach 24°C with an relative humidity of 50%. Winds are west/north-west at about 10 kph with gusts up to 15 kph (peak gusts in the early evening hours).
Today sees a return to seasonal temperatures (after some hotter days). No rain is in the forecast for the next few days but more clouds are expected on today and tomorrow, the BC Wildfire Services said today. But this is a period of drought on Vancouver Island; July was one of the driest on record.
More wind gusts are expected on Tuesday from the west, perhaps with moisture to produce rain on Wednesday.
“A significant amount of rainfall would be needed to make significant changes to the fire behaviour,” said BC Wildfire Service today.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS | VANCOUVER ISLAND | WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT | FORESTRY