About 20 firefighters are battling a brush fire that broke out in an area of Lake Cowichan near Skutz Falls, according to officials.

The 0.2 hectare blaze was reported at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses noticed flames on the north side of Highway 18 on a slope, Lake Cowichan Fire said.

The Coastal Fire Centre dispatched six firefighters and two airtankers to the blaze, while crews called in mutual aid from Sahtlam Fire.

Flames are being driven by wind in the area and fire officials said they were beginning to climb into trees, otherwise known as a level 4 fire.

Residents took to social media to share pictures of a large plume of white smoke erupting from the area.