Helicopters, boats and ground crews battling out-of-control wildfire near Victoria
Firefighters took to the air, land and sea to battle an out-of-control wildfire northwest of Victoria on Tuesday morning.
Three helicopters were contracted by the B.C. Wildfire Service early Tuesday to assist ground crews on the eastern shore of Finlayson Arm, where a half-hectare blaze was identified in the early-morning hours.
Wildfire smoke blankets the area around Finlayson Arm on Tuesday morning. (CTV News)
CTV News has learned the fire was started by a hiker who got lost in the area and lit a campfire to stay warm.
By 1:30 p.m., Langford Fire Rescue said the blaze was being held and was not likely to grow under the current weather conditions.
The fire was spotted overnight, according to Highlands Fire Rescue, but its remote and difficult location made it hard to access in the dark.
The area, near Hydro Road, is defined by steep cliffs and dense forest.
Firefighters, including municipal responders from Langford and Highlands, were accessing the region by boat.
Wildfire smoke blankets the area around Finlayson Arm on Tuesday morning. (CTV News)
Firefighters gathered at the Goldstream Boat Launch around 8 a.m. to transit to the area.
The helicopters were initially delayed in getting to the scene due to dense, early-morning fog, according to provincial fire information officer Julia Caranci.
Crews were monitoring nearby power lines to ensure hydro transmission was not interrupted by the blaze or the fire-suppression efforts.
The cause of the fire is still officially under investigation but is suspected to be human-caused, Caranci said.
Langford Fire Rescue says there was no immediate threat to any homes in the area.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.