'Please be vigilant': Several recent fires spark call for caution from Port Alberni fire chief
Firefighters in Port Alberni, B.C., are pleading with the public to avoid lighting fires in local forests and parks after the department responded to a dozen brushfires over the past two weeks, according to the fire chief.
One of the latest fires was sparked Thursday night near the Echo Aquatic and Fitness Centre in the heart of the city.
The fire ignited in Roger Creek Park around 10 p.m. and smoke could be seen billowing from the area.
The Port Alberni Fire Department says no homes were threatened by the blaze.
By 11:30 p.m., the fire was considered extinguished, though crews remained at the scene to watch for hotspots.
Fire Chief Mike Owens says the department was called to the same area Monday for a similar blaze.
"The fire was approximately 30 feet by 40 feet, but was also climbing the full length of the trees," Owens said of the Thursday fire. "Crews probably worked the fire for approximately an hour and half in order to suppress it, then monitor in case there were any hotspots in the area."
ALL FIRES WERE HUMAN-CAUSED
Firefighters returned to the scene Friday to ensure there were no new hotspots flaring up. While no hotspots were found, fire crews were called to a fire in a dry creek bed in the 3500-block of Third Avenue on Friday morning.
"All of the fires that we've had – approximately a dozen fires in the past two weeks – all of them [were] human-caused for sure," Owens said. "Whether there is criminality or not, we have forwarded those on to the RCMP."
Thursday's fire was the largest of the recent blazes in and around the city, the fire chief said.
"We haven't seen any meaningful rainfall in weeks and coupled with that, the fire danger rating in our area has been at the extreme rating for a number of weeks now," Owens said. "So we're pleading with the public to please be vigilant and ensure that you don't start a fire."
The fire chief said he is grateful to the concerned Port Alberni citizens who have been calling in with reports of smoke, "which has been a key reason that we've been able to keep these fires down."
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.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
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.
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.
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.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
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.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.