Vancouver Island Wildfire no longer a fire brigade
Natural Fire Near Port Alberni, BC Subsides After Evacuations and State of Emergency
A burnt part of forest from the Mount Underwood Wildfire, southwest of Port Alberni, BC, on Monday. The Canadian press/HO-BC Wildfire Service
A natural fire near Port Alberni, BC, which led to evacuations and a state of local emergency situations last week, has been reduced again, leaving the province without turbulent fires.
Fire Brigade Reduction Achieved
The BC Wildfire Service announced that the Mount Underwood Fire lost its fire brigade reduction status on Thursday, indicating it was no longer a significant threat to public safety after receiving 40 millimeters of rain last week.
The service had previously declared the fire as being held, meaning it was not expected to spread beyond its current size of 35 square kilometers.
Public Safety and Resources
The Wildfire Service clarified that the fire status classification does not affect resource allocation but rather serves as a measure of public attention to the fire situation.
Challenges and Progress
The Mount Underwood Fire initially exhibited aggressive growth upon discovery on August 11, prompting evacuations and road closures. While most evacuation orders have been lifted, challenges remain for communities, such as access to propane for generators due to road closures.
BC Hydro reported good progress in restoring power to the affected area, with completion expected ahead of schedule. The current is anticipated to be fully restored earlier than the original estimate of August 30.
Current Fire Situation
With approximately 60 active forest fires in BC, only two in the northeast region are considered uncontrolled at this time.
