Wildfire near Cameron Lake on Vancouver Island prompts evacuation order; Highway 4 remains open

CBC

4 days ago

An out-of-control wildfire on the north side of Cameron Lake has triggered an evacuation order and alert for nearby areas on Vancouver Island, close to the site of a 2023 fire that shut down Highway 4 for weeks.
The Wesley Ridge wildfire, discovered shortly after midnight Thursday, is now estimated at 0.4 square kilometres and is burning in steep, difficult-to-access terrain, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has declared a state of local emergency and issued an evacuation order for properties on the north shore of the lake, including Chalet Road and Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park.
An evacuation alert, which asks residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, was also issued Thursday afternoon for the Meadowood area near Qualicum Beach, affecting nearly 300 properties.
In a notice, the regional district said: "Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible before evacuation is ordered; however, you may receive limited notice due to changing conditions."
Kimberly Kelly, a spokesperson for the Coastal Fire Centre, says the fire is burning at Rank 2 and Rank 3 intensity, a classification that indicates a low but active ground fire with visible open flames.
About 40 wildfire personnel are currently on the ground, supported by crews from Coombs and Dashwood fire departments, as well as four helicopters. The wildfire service has also requested air tanker support.
The wildfire service says the fire is burning on the opposite side of the lake from Highway 4, which remains open. Still, officials are urging drivers to use caution.
"Travellers on Highway 4, please be mindful, crews and aircraft are working in the area. Proceed with caution, stay focused on the road and don't stop the flow of traffic," reads a statement from the B.C. Wildfire Service.
DriveBC echoed the warning, advising motorists to watch for emergency crews on the road and smoke in the area.
According to B.C. Parks, day-use areas at Cameron Lake and Beaufort along the Highway 4 corridor are now closed to support wildfire response efforts. The campground at Little Qualicum Falls remains open for now.
The wildfire is suspected to be human-caused, a broad category that includes all fires not sparked by lightning.
Highway 4 significant to west coast communities
Although the fire is not threatening the highway at this time, the area has seen major disruption in the past.
In June 2023, a wildfire on the south side of Cameron Lake, along the same highway corridor, forced the closure of Highway 4 for nearly three weeks.
WATCH | Highway closure reflects communities' vulnerability, says Ucluelet mayor:
Mayor says 3-week closure of Highway 4 was a wake-up call
2 years ago
The mayor of Ucluelet, B.C., says the province needs to fund an alternative road out of western Vancouver Island after their only highway was closed for nearly three weeks.
That closure caused an estimated $61 million in lost revenue for the region, which relies heavily on summer tourism.
The highway is the only paved route to the 18,000-resident City of Port Alberni — as well as Tofino, Ucluelet and most communities in the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation.