Homes were evacuated as crews from multiple districts battled a 10-acre wildfire near the Nanaimo Airport Thursday.

Smoke could be seen billowing into the air in a forested area along Cedar Road as firefighters from Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Chemainus, North Oyster, Cedar and Cranberry try to stop the flames from spreading.

Homes along the west side of Cedar Road between Yellow Point and Adshed Road were evacuated as the fire rapidly spread in the hot, dry conditions.

A woman who lives just outside of the evacuation area said she and her husband noticed the flames at around 4:30 p.m. as they drove to a nearby river.

“My husband spotted it in the corner of his eye,” said Cassandra Donnelly. “It started small and then it just went from when I posted my first picture, to 10 acres of complete fire.”

Donnelly estimated that it only took about 20 minutes for it to grow from a small brush fire into a wildfire. 

She said flames at one point came dangerously close to homes, possibly within an acre of some.

“To know it can go that fast and that quickly within 20 minutes is pretty crazy,” she said.

She said she and her husband were returning to their home on Yellow Point Road to prepare in case they are also given an evacuation notice.