Over the weekend, the blaze in Sooke Potholes Regional Park dubbed the ‘Old Man Lake’ wildfire has grown to 230 hectares in size.
The fire was first discovered on Monday, July 22nd and has been considered as an out of control wildfire ever since, prompting the Capital Regional District (CRD) to shut down several areas nearby.
The CRD has indefinitely closed the whole of Sooke Potholes Regional Park, including the Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground, the section of Galloping Goose that passes through the park and the Sooke Potholes Gateway.
As of Monday, July 29th, the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says crews and helicopters continue to make good progress containing the south and north flanks of the fire, working west to east.
They added that the west flank along the Sooke River is fully contained and there has been no appreciable overnight growth overnight.
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The lack of growth may have been due to the region receiving some rain overnight. This rain is expected to continue in the Greater Victoria area until Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.
The BCWS is reporting that there are currently three initial attack crews, three unit crews, two parattack crews, tree fallers and several other resources responding to the Old Man Lake wildfire.
Additionally, four helicopters are responding to the fire.
In total, they say more than 60 resources are on scene working against the blaze.
To clarify what certain resources do when they are responding to a blaze like the Old Man Lake wildfire, the BCWS posted a video detailing the differences between crews and their duties.
In all of BC, there are 368 active wildfires. The Old Man Lake wildfire is currently the only active blaze on Vancouver Island.
