An aggressive forest fire on Monday night has forced up to 300 people to flee from a camp near Port Alberni, BC
China Creek and the sports port southwest of the city of Vancouver were evacuated due to Mount Underwood fire, which rapidly grew from around 50 hectares of size around 7 pm to 150 hectares at 9 pm around 10 pm, it had further globalized more than 630 hectares.
In an update on Monday night, BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire was showing fire behavior Rank 4 and Rank 5, which means it was an extremely vigorous surface fire and burning to the top of the trees.
The authorities say that the main road of Bamfield is closed between Port Alberni and Bamfield while investigating the cause of the fire.
The co-zo of the Port Author Author Author, head of the Creek camp, said up to 300 people had to leave the site on Monday.
“The road is closed to Bamfield. Therefore, that cuts people on both sides,” said Mike Carter co-zo just after 9 pm on Monday.
“But, in regards to the Port Authority, it is only a camp under our jurisdiction and that has been completely evacuated, and we are standing to see how things go during the night.”
Carter said he was concerned about possible fire damage to tents, recreational vehicles or boats, since the fire is being excavated by winds and heat on the island of Vancouver, but the number one priority was the safety of customers and staff.
“I understand that it is Port Alberni, since a city is not in damage,” Carter said. “However, people must be prepared, have packaged bags and just monitor.”
The regional district of Alberni-Clayoquot said in an online update at 9:15 PM PT that had activated its emergency operations center.
The fire is located about 12 kilometers south of Port Alberni, a city of around 19,000 people on the island of Vancouver.
Forest fire teams say that the helicopters equipped with night vision would fight against the fire during the night, and the equipment specialized in the protection of the structures were on stage.
“The smoke is visible from the surrounding communities and, due to land and proximity, it may seem coming from the Wesley Ridge forest fire when seen from the north and the east,” reads the online BCWs update.
Evacuation alert near Osoyos
An evacuation alert for three properties to the northwest of Osoyos was issued, in the interior of southern BC, for a fire separated on Monday night.
The Conifryd Creek forest fire is estimated at 7.5 hectares of size from 8:30 pm PT on Monday, and is considered to be held by BCWs.
The fire led to the 3 Autopista near Osoyos to close for about two hours in both directions on Monday night, although it had reopened the alternative traffic of a single lane just before 8:30 pm PT.
An evacuation alert means that residents must prepare to evacuate their homes with little or no notice.
