Evacuation order for nearly 100 Vancouver Island homes downgraded after rain

Authorities have downgraded an evacuation order for about 100 homes threatened by the Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island.

The fire is still burning out of control in the forests east of Port Alberni, but recent rain has helped crews manage.

The Regional District of Nanaimo partially downgraded the evacuation order in the Little Qualicum River Village area for some properties Wednesday afternoon.

Chad Essiambre’s property was among those under evacuation alert for the past four days.

He says the initial alert came as “a bit of a shock.”

“You start to think like, ‘What kind of things do I actually need to bring? What things can we live without?’ And then the kids were helping us decide that for their own personal items that they have accumulated in their short lives. And so ultimately, I guess you have some bags that have been ready to go for the last three days and just kind of waiting to see what happens,” Essiambre explained.

He says people have banded together to help each other out during a difficult time.

“The community has been overwhelmingly helpful. Anything you need, you throw out on a Facebook group and there’s multiple people trying to help, offering their property, or supplies, or their vehicles to help you move things.”

Essiambre thanked BC Wildfire Service crews for their hard work saving his home, and shared his hope that the evacuation order is lifted for all residents of the village.

The Wesley Ridge fire has reached over 570 hectares in size. It is currently classified as the only ‘wildfire of note’ in the province.

There are currently 107 active wildfires in B.C. Twenty-four have been put out in as many hours.

—With files from Monika Gul