Late Friday afternoon, Prince Rupert RCMP and Fire Rescue were alerted to a brush fire in the 200 block of Skeena Drive in Port Edward.
The site at the northwestern base of Mount Stewart, forced the evacuation of Kinnikinnick Campground and RV Park and all of Evergreen Drive, with no injuries reported during or after the fire had been contained.
The blaze started at approximately 5:50 p.m. and the Prince Rupert Fire Department and volunteer firefighters from Port Edward took immediate action to attempt to extinguish the brush fire, which grew to six hectares before it was fully doused.
RCMP enlisted the help of two water-bombing aircraft and nearby helicopters for assistance.
By 10:30 p.m., the District of Port Edward announced it was safe for residents and campers to return to their homes.
“Local fire departments and forestry crews have been engaged,” said Cst. Matt Ericson in an RCMP release on Friday.
“In addition to this, a helicopter has been deployed from Terrace and an air tanker from Kelowna. Fortunately it appears as though the winds are blowing the fire away from populated areas and there is no risk to people or structure.”
The District of Port Edward opened the community hall as a gathering spot while firefighters fought the blaze and crews from the BC Wildfire Service were also able to assist with the fire on Friday.
Twenty more BC Wildfire Service personnel and an incident commander are estimated to arrive on scene on Saturday.
