Vancouver Island’s Wesley Ridge fire being held at 588 hectares

Two wildfires that forced evacuations in recent weeks were reclassified as ‘being held’ by the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) Monday.

The Wesley Ridge wildfire on Vancouver Island, first discovered on July 31, is now being held at 588 hectares in size between Port Alberni and Parksville.

Hundreds of people remain on evacuation orders and alerts in the area, but the service says, “based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability,” it’s expected to stay within the current perimeter, control line or boundary.

Lisa Grant, the general manager of development and emergency services for the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), said 294 addresses were on evacuation order, and 353 addresses were on evacuation alert as of Saturday.

“We are working hard to enable residents on evacuation order in Little Qualicum River Village below Warn Way to return to their homes by Aug. 11,” said Grant.

It remains the only wildfire ‘of note’ in B.C. and is believed to have been human-caused.

Meanwhile, a wildfire in the Interior that forced a tactical evacuation of about 25 homes over the weekend is now also being held.

The BCWS says the classification means the fire of about 2.5 hectares in size near Kelowna, B.C., is not expected to grow beyond its current perimeter.

All residents evacuated Sunday can now return home, although Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says three addresses have been placed on alert to prepare for possible evacuation again on short notice.

The wildfire service had warned that hot, dry and windy weather in southern B.C. could intensify fire behaviour, while a cold front later in the week could also bring winds and further fuel blazes.

The wildfire service’s dashboard is reporting about 100 active fires in the province, with a similar number declared out in the last seven days.