A forest fire has broken out south of Port Alberni, sending an enormous plume into the early evening sky at the end of a day that saw the temperature rise to 35 C.
On Monday, Aug. 11 residents stepped outside to get a look at the rapidly rising smoke, taking cell phone videos as trucks from the region’s fire departments rushed past in the direction of the blaze, filling the air with sirens.
Initials reports came from the B.C. Wildfire Service shortly after 7 p.m., estimating the “out of control” fire to be 50 hectares, located south of Port Alberni, directly east of the China Creek Marina and campground.
Photos posted on social media taken from across the Alberni Inlet show a fire on the slope above the settlement. Reports from China Creek warned people to evacuate the site. Other reports from Bamfield and Anacla said the power shut off just after 7 p.m.
More to come…
