A wildfire has broken out on Arbutus Ridge, and can be seen across the Alberni Canal from Harbour Quay and similar waterfront vantage points.
People noticed the fire shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10. The B.C. Wildfire Service upgraded the size of the fire to 2.1 hectares.
The fire appears to be in an area that has already been logged, and is away from the cellphone tower that is located on top of the ridge. Firefighting ground crews are already on site, as well as a helicopter dropping water from its Bambi Bucket.
The City of Port Alberni has reported that B.C. Wildfire Service requested assistance from Port Alberni Fire Department, which has sent a crew to the scene. There are also “several initial attack crews”, according to the city.
READ: Martin Mars unlikely to see firefighting action in Port Alberni
This is the third fire burning in the Alberni Valley in less than a week. The four-hectare Turtle Lake fire, east of Great Central Lake, is considered under control. The Beaufort Ridge fire burning above Cherry Creek is still listed as 10 hectares.
We will update this story as more information becomes available.
