The Cameron Bluffs wildfire located about 15 kilometres from Port Alberni has grown in size over the last 24-hours.
Due to its growth, Highway 4 has been temporarily closed until the area is deemed safe.
The fire has grown from 80 hectares in size to over 120 hectares which has prompted the fire’s severity level to be upgraded from ‘out of control’ to ‘wildfire of note,’ meaning that it is highly visible or poses a potential threat to public safety.
The fire was first reported on Saturday, June 3rd and crews have been attempting to extinguish the blaze ever since, but it has not been easy.
Due to the area of the fire being inaccessible to fire crews because of the region’s steep slopes.
“Crews are working on direct attack objectives where possible,” says the BC Wildfire Service. “The fire is in steep terrain.”
Firefighters on scene are utilizing air tankers and bucketting large amounts of water form nearby lakes to try to extinguish the fire; although, current weather conditions are limiting their ability to operate.
The Ministry of Forests is working with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s slope analysts to determine when Highway 4 will be able to be reopened., but for now there is a detour traffic is being directed through.
Traffic is being detoured from Port Alberni through to Lake Cowichan by way of Bamfield using service and forestry roads.
The gravel detour will add approximately four hours to commuters trips and there is no cell service, gas stations or washroom facilities on the route.
On Thursday, June 8th, a new fire ban will be introduced in the coastal region of BC and Vancouver Island which prohibits personal campfires, fireworks, tiki torches and other small fire hazards.
