Dozens of firefighters battling out-of-control blaze near Sayward, B.C.
Fifty-five firefighters have descended on the northern Vancouver Island village of Sayward, where an out-of-control wildfire exploded in size Monday night, becoming the largest fire of the season for British Columbia's coastal region.
Three helicopters and multiple fire trucks were dispatched to the Newcastle Creek fire on Tuesday morning, with the possibility of a fourth helicopter joining suppression efforts by the afternoon.
There are currently no evacuation orders in place for Sayward, which lies approximately five kilometres east of the Newcastle Creek fire.
Julia Caranci, a spokesperson for B.C.'s Coastal Fire Centre, says the Newcastle Creek fire was first reported to officials around 1:30 p.m. Monday when it covered an area of 15 hectares.
High winds have fueled a sixfold increase in the fire's size, reaching 90 hectares by Monday night and into Tuesday.
The fire is believed to be human-caused.
"We are not recommending any sort of evacuation alert, however the town is being strongly impacted by smoke as are other parts of Vancouver Island," Caranci said in an interview Tuesday.
Smoky skies blanketed much of the Comox Valley on Tuesday morning. The air quality health index for Nanaimo, approximately 200 kilometres southeast of Sayward, was measured at 4 or "moderate risk" Tuesday morning, according to Environment Canada.
Sayward Mayor Mark Baker is urging anyone who encounters a forest fire – or who accidentally starts one – to alert authorities immediately to protect life and property.
"If you made a mistake and you started a small fire, instead of running and hiding because you think you're going to be in trouble, contact somebody so it doesn't grow to this size and put people's lives in jeopardy," Baker told CTV News. "That to me is the most upsetting thing."
Sayward Mayor Mark Baker is urging anyone who encounters a forest fire – or who accidentally starts one – to alert authorities immediately to protect life and property. (CTV News)
Fire officials are hopeful that attack crews will see a reprieve from the high winds and hot temperatures this week. "It should give us a good opportunity to continue to work the fire while conditions are favourable," Caranci said.
The Newcastle Creek fire is the largest fire this season for the Coastal Fire Centre, with the next largest fire measuring 38 hectares near Squamish, B.C. That fire is now considered under control, according to the B.C. Wildfire Service.
The provincial agency says there are 60 active wildfires in the province as of Tuesday morning, with 11 fires burning out of control.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.