British Columbia
An out-of-control wildfire east of Port Alberni, B.C., shut down Highway 4, the only major route connecting the city with the rest of Vancouver Island, on Tuesday.
Cameron Bluffs fire considered out of control, burning near provincial parks south of Hwy 4
Akshay Kulkarni · CBC News
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An out-of-control wildfire east of Port Alberni, B.C., shut down the only major route connecting the city with the rest of Vancouver Islandon Tuesday.
The Cameron Bluffs firewas first discovered on Saturday, and is burning around 1.4square kilometres as of 3 p.m. Wednesday. It is suspected to have been caused by human activity.
It is among six"fires of note" — particularly visible or posea threat to public safety — currently burning in B.C. One of those is the Donnie Creek blazein northeast B.C., one of the largest in B.C.'s history.
DriveBC says Highway 4was closed outright at 3:30 p.m. due to the Cameron Bluffs fire,located between MacMillan Provincial Park and Koen Road — not far from Cathedral Grove, home to some of Canada's oldest and tallest trees.
The mayor of Port Alberni, a community of over 18,000 people, saysHighway 4 is the only significant road in and out of the community,barring logging roads and smaller routes.
"When I went through [Tuesday] morning myself, personally, I could see the flames very close to the highway," Sharie Minions told CBC News. "It's ... just a challenging area because it is, you know, a mountain area as well."
Minions saidthe B.C. Wildfire Service is taking the blaze very seriously, with heavy equipment and air crews working to suppress the flames.
"There are other ways in and out of our community in order to get the supplies that are needed," she said. "We have a pretty good network of plans in place to make sure that our community doesn't run short on anything that's needed."
Minions says any Port Alberni residents should avoid travel unless it's absolutely necessary, even if the road is temporarily re-opened, so as to not impede wildfire crews.
The highway is also themajor route connecting the west coast communities of Tofino and Ucluelet to the rest of the island.
A statement from the Transport Ministry says a detour will route traffic to Lake Cowichan through Bamfield using gravel forest service and industrial roads, which have no cell service, gas stations or washroom facilities. Only vehicles weighing less than 14,500 kilograms will be permitted, and the detour is likely to extend travel by four hours, according to the ministry.
- Compare the size of the Donnie Creek wildfire to other historic blazes and major North American cities
- Federal data forecasts grim wildfire season this summer
A group of around 50 students from Dover Bay Secondary School in Nanaimo were among the people caught up in the highway closure.
The Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District scrambled to find space in a Port Alberni school for the students to sleep in Tuesday night.
"There were kids with sleeping bags or things they could use already from the trip, but there were some that didn't have, so the community came together from my understanding and had found pillows and blankets for students for the evening," said school district spokesperson Dale Burgos.
Campfire bans coming for much of B.C.
Amid hot and dry conditions for the whole province, campfire bans are coming for much of B.C. on Thursday.
Large open fires —called Category 2 and 3 fires by the wildfire service — are already prohibited across the province.
Campfires, which come under Category 1, include all fires smaller than half a metre in size. The bans do not include the use of outdoor stoves but do prohibit the use of fireworks, sky lanterns and tiki torches.
Category 1 campfires will be prohibited in many areas of the province effective noon (PDT), Thursday June 8. <a href="https://t.co/YfnMNvst8Q">pic.twitter.com/YfnMNvst8Q</a>
—@BCGovFireInfoThe campfire bans will include the entirety of the South Coast, including Vancouver Island and the Kamloops and Cariboo Fire Centres in the Central Interior.
UclueletFire Chief Rick Geddes said it is early for a campfire ban in thearea, adding that banshave typically started in July in the past few years.
He says this winter and spring wereunusually dry on Vancouver Island's west coast.
"I totally understand and appreciate enjoying a campfire, especially by the ocean ... but it's becoming increasingly and increasingly unsafe every year," Geddes said Wednesday morningon CBC's On The Island.
- Open fire bans to go into place across B.C.
Bans have already been in place for many parts of the Prince George Fire Centre in northeast B.C., but will now include the entire region.
"Camping is a long-standing tradition in this province," reads a statement from the fire service. "The B.C. government recognizes that people also enjoy having campfires, so it takes any decision to implement a campfire ban very seriously."
The Vancouver ParkBoard said Tuesdaythat barbecues are now banned in all Vancouver parksdue to high fire risk.
Evacuation ordersexpanded near Alta. border
Two wildfires in northeast B.C. near the Alberta border, both discovered Tuesday afternoon, are now being considered wildfires of note.
One of them, the West Kiskatinaw River Wildfire, led to an evacuation order for properties in Electoral Area D. On Thursday, the order was expanded to include sparsely populated areas west of One Island Provincial Park.
The wildfire is estimated to be burning over an area of 96square kilometres, 24 times the size of Stanley Park.
The PRRD has expanded the Evacuation Order area for the West Kiskatinaw River wildfire. The expanded area now includes sparsely populated areas to the west of the existing Evacuation Order area. Visit <a href="https://t.co/CmufTaSRcg">https://t.co/CmufTaSRcg</a> for details. <a href="https://t.co/HUxrZnefDM">pic.twitter.com/HUxrZnefDM</a>
—@prrdistrictThe other fire of note, the Peavine Creek fire, is burning over 12.5 square kilometres.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Akshay Kulkarni
Journalist
Akshay Kulkarni is a journalist who has worked at CBC British Columbia since 2021. Based in Vancouver, he has covered breaking news, and written features about the pandemic and toxic drug crisis. He is most interested in data-driven stories. You can email him at akshay.kulkarni@cbc.ca.
With files from Liz McArthur, On The Island and The Canadian Press
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As an expert in wildfires and their impact on communities, I can confidently provide information related to the concepts used in the article about the out-of-control wildfire in British Columbia.
Firstly, wildfires are a natural occurrence, but they can also be caused by human activity. The Cameron Bluffs fire, which shut down Highway 4 and is currently burning near provincial parks south of the highway, is suspected to have been caused by human activity. This highlights the importance of practicing caution and responsibility in areas prone to wildfires.
The Cameron Bluffs fire is one of six "fires of note" currently burning in British Columbia. These fires are particularly visible or pose a threat to public safety. The Donnie Creek blaze, located in northeast B.C., is one of the largest wildfires in the province's history. Comparing the size of the Donnie Creek wildfire to other historic blazes and major North American cities can provide insight into the scale of the fire and its potential impact.
Highway 4, which was closed due to the Cameron Bluffs fire, is the only major route connecting the city of Port Alberni with the rest of Vancouver Island. This closure has significant implications for the community, as it limits access to essential supplies and services. The mayor of Port Alberni has emphasized the seriousness of the blaze and urged residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary to avoid impeding wildfire crews.
In response to the closure of Highway 4, a detour has been established to route traffic to Lake Cowichan through Bamfield using gravel forest service and industrial roads. This detour, however, lacks cell service, gas stations, and washroom facilities, making it less convenient for travelers. It's important for motorists to be aware of these limitations and plan accordingly.
The article also mentions the implementation of campfire bans in many parts of British Columbia due to hot and dry conditions. These bans aim to prevent the spread of wildfires and ensure public safety. It's crucial for residents and visitors to adhere to these restrictions and take necessary precautions to prevent accidental fires.
The impacts of wildfires extend beyond road closures and bans on campfires. In the case of the Cameron Bluffs fire, around 50 students from Dover Bay Secondary School in Nanaimo found themselves caught up in the highway closure. The Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District worked to find accommodations for the students in a Port Alberni school for the night, demonstrating the community's response to such situations.
In conclusion, the out-of-control wildfire in British Columbia, specifically the Cameron Bluffs fire, has had significant implications for the community of Port Alberni and the surrounding areas. The closure of Highway 4 and the implementation of campfire bans highlight the need for caution and vigilance during wildfire season. It is essential for residents and visitors to prioritize safety and support wildfire crews in their efforts to control and suppress these fires.
