Firefighters say hotspots 'dug into the ground' at wildfire site near Victoria
A wildfire that ignited northwest of Victoria on Tuesday morning is now considered "held" Wednesday, according to the BC Wildfire Service, as firefighters continue to manage hotspots.
The roughly one-hectare blaze was spotted early Tuesday morning on the eastern shore of Finlayson Arm, north of Goldstream Provincial Park.
The fire was located in a hard-to-reach forested slope. Municipal firefighters used boats to access the fire while the BC Wildfire Service deployed three helicopters to assist ground crews.
On Wednesday afternoon, the BC Wildfire Service said the fire did not grow overnight, and that it is "not likely to spread beyond predetermined boundaries under prevailing conditions."
Highlands Fire Rescue Chief Dean Ford says the fire is "dug into the ground" and is likely to continue smouldering because of dry conditions for quite some time.
"It's a lot of rotten rock and shale and things like that," Ford told CTV News. "You have these pits and roots and things, so it's really dug itself in there quite deep."
"We're literally having to dig up an entire hectare by hand and wet it down because there's absolutely no moisture in the ground right now," he added.
Crews with the BC Wildfire Service, Highlands Fire Rescue, Metchosin Fire Department and the Willis Point Volunteer Fire Department remain at the scene Wednesday.
About 20 firefighters are there looking for hotspots until the fire is fully extinguished.
The fire is believed to have started after a hiker got lost in the area and lit a campfire to stay warm.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.