Agassiz, Seabird Island and B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters battled a blaze on Mount Woodside on Wednesday (April 14). The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation as of publication. (Photo/Agassiz Fire Department)

Agassiz, Seabird Island firefighters contain Mt. Woodside wildfire

Half-hectare fire among the first wildfires of the year

  • Apr. 15, 2021 12:00 a.m.

The Agassiz and Seabird Island fire departments and B.C. Wildfire Service were on the scene of a half-hectare wildfire on Wednesday.

The Agassiz Fire Department reported the fire in the 2000 block of the Lougheed Highway near Mount Woodside outside of Harrison Mills, in which approximately half a hectare was on fire.

“Significant winds whipped the fire up and continued to push it towards the forest,” the Agassiz Fire Department said in a statement. “First-in crews aggressively attacked the fire and were able to contain it.” Seabird Island and B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters helped contain the blaze before it took hold of the underbrush.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation.

According to data from the B.C. Wildfire Service , the 2021 Mount Woodside fire is among the first 50 recorded across the province this year; 28 of the 49 fires in 2021 burned in the last seven days. Roughly 60 per cent of fires started this year are suspected to be human-caused. As of Thursday (April 15), there are 14 active fires.


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This map from B.C. Wildfire Services pinpoints the April 14 fire. (Screenshot/B.C. Wildfire Services)