Officials are describing a fire that is rapidly growing south of Port Alberni as explosive, although they say that the city is not currently in danger.
Since it was first spotted early in the evening on Monday, Aug. 11 the Mount Underwood wildfire has grown to 1,391 hectares, according to an update given by the B.C. Wildfire Service in the early afternoon of Aug. 12. The provincial agency designates the blaze as an “out of control wildfire of note”.
Julia Caranci has worked as an information officer with the Coastal Fire Centre since 2019. She addressed the quickly spreading Mount Underwood blaze during a press conference in Port Alberni on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
“This is a dynamic and fluid situation,” she said. “The behaviour we are seeing on this fire is extreme, driven by strong winds, extremely dry conditions and steep terrain.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen a fire like this on Vancouver Island,” continued Caranci. “What we’re seeing is incredibly dry conditions, which we would not normally see for this extended period of time.”
As Caranci and other officials addressed the situation a plume of smoke resembling what would otherwise emerge from a volcano continued to rise above Port Alberni, a sight first visible to residents at about 7 p.m. on Aug. 11. Also noticeable are the sounds of aircraft hovering over the southern end of the small coastal city, accessing water from the Alberni Inlet as the wildfire climbs along a slope above the China Creek Campground and Marina.
The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District has declared a state of emergency, and with this an evacuation order was given for the marina and campground, which affects approximately 50 industrial, commercial and recreation properties. The road to Bamfield has been closed, a measure that will be in place for an indeterminate period of time.
“We do not expect the road closure to be short term,” said Caranci. “It will very likely go on for days, or possibly weeks.”
The emergence of the wildfire has also cut off power to Bamfield and the nearby Huu-ay-aht village of Anacla.
“The power will likely be out for at least 72 hours, likely more, therefore people will have to take the steps they need to manage their own families and check in on their neighbours and their community,” said John Jack, chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.
Jack added that Bamfield, Anacla and the Ditidaht village of Nitinaht can still be access by logging logs from Lake Cowichan, although visitors should stay away for the time being.
“We are asking people to stay away from the region and restrict their travel to essential travel only because vital resources will be using that road primarily to get to our territory,” stressed Jack.
The wildfire service has informed the ACRD of what would warrant evacuation orders for Port Alberni, although the specifics of those are not being disclosed. Currently Mount Underwood is burning 12 kilometres south of the city.
“When we’re responding to any wildfire that’s in proximity to a community we have triggers that are in place, and if those triggers are met then we make recommendations for evacuation alerts and orders,” explained Caranci. “We are looking at the situation on a constant basis. If we feel the need arises to make that recommendation to the ACRD, then we will do that.”
During the press conference Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions noted that the city’s residents are “not in imminent danger”, although they should be prepared for a possible evacuation in case the situation dramatically worsens.
“While this is an extremely unsettling situation, we don’t want people to panic, and in the Alberni Valley we have absolutely no reason to panic,” she said.
The BC Wildfire Service is currently using four helicopters, five skimmer airplanes and one birddog air tanker on Mount Underwood, and some of these aviation efforts can be employed in the dark with the use of night vision technology. A heavy equipment task force has been deployed, while support has come from the Alberni Valley’s fire departments.
On the ground approximately 70 personnel from the wildfire service are fighting the blaze, including two initial attacks crews and three unit crews.
Meanwhile a change in wind on Tuesday has spread smoke north up the Alberni Inlet. The ACRD warns those with existing health conditions to be vigilant of how the smokey air could affect breathing.
“Stop strenuous activities if breathing becomes difficult,” stated a notice from the regional district. “Carry any rescue medications with you at all times and make sure that children and others who cannot care for themselves follow the same advice.”
For those in the region around Port Alberni, this is the third wildfire that has gained attention this summer, after the relatively small Nahmint Mountain blaze in early June and the Wesley Ridge wildfire that continues to burn on the north shore of Cameron Lake. In 2023 another wildfire burned on the other side of Cameron Lake, shutting down highway access for part of the summer and costing the region’s economy millions in lost revenue due to transportation delays.
As wildfires are becoming a regular part of life during the hot months, John Jack reiterated the need for an alternate route into the Alberni Valley.
“This is absolutely evidence of the fact that the Alberni Valley and the west coast need alternate routes that are supported by provincial government to make sure that our people are safe and have the logistical considerations to get supplies and access other parts of Vancouver Island,” he said. “The west coast is valuable; we deserve another route in and out of the Alberni Valley and the west coast to make sure that we are safe.”
After another day of 35 Celsius temperatures on Tuesday, cooler weather is expected this week, including possible rain on Friday.
“Even if the rain we are expecting does come, it is not likely to have a strong impact on the current behaviour we are seeing right now,” said Caranci.
