Firefighters are gaining ground on the Arbutus Ridge fire across from Port Alberni, now reported to be 30 hectares in size.
“It has grown…and that’s because we have been doing some successful burns,” Coastal Fire Centre fire information assistant Dorthe Jakobsen said.
The fire was 25 percent contained as of late Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Fire crews have been doing “controlled burns“—planned, low-intensity fires designed to remove fuel such as brush or deadfall for an approaching wildfire, that then creates a fire break. Using this method gives firefighters control in removing the underbrush so a wildfire does not have an opportunity to burn that fuel in an uncontrolled manner.
Three types of controlled burning that BC Wildfire Service uses including burning out, burning off and backfiring. Prescribed burning is also used in different situations, according to the Coastal Fire Centre.
WATCH: Prescribed burning in action
On Tuesday, 30 B.C. Wildfire Service firefighters, four helicopters and 10 pieces of heavy equipment along with support staff and tree fallers were working to contain the fire. Similar assets were working on the fire Wednesday morning.
Arbutus Ridge is the only active fire in the Alberni Valley now. The Beaufort Ridge fire was at mop-up stage early this week, while the North Taylor Arm fire was under control and at mop-up stage on Monday. BCWS crews were monitoring the site.
READ MORE: Fire breaks out on Arbutus Ridge
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“I don’t know if it ever got past the ‘spot size’,” Jakobsen said. Crews extinguished two small hot spots on Monday.
There are more than 500 fires burning across British Columbia, and the provincial government on Wednesday declared a state of emergency. More than 3,300 firefighters are working on the blazes.
READ MORE: B.C. declares state of emergency as wildfires rage
There are close to 35 fires burning north of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, and the Nanaimo Lakes fire is 182 hectares and not under control.
