Sooke-area wildfire doubles to over 100 hectares on Vancouver Island
An out-of-control blaze on Mount Jack west of Sooke, B.C., jumped from about 50 to more than 100 hectares in a single day, though officials say it still poses no threat to people or infrastructure.
What to know
- The Mount Jack/Leech River wildfire west of Sooke, B.C. doubled from about 50 to over 100 hectares in a single day (Sept. 22), driven by warm, dry, windy conditions.
- BC Wildfire Service says the fire, despite its size and visible smoke over Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley, poses no threat to public safety or critical infrastructure.
- A second, smaller human-caused fire (Pat Phillip Creek) and additional out-of-control blazes at Nitinaht Main and near Jordan River are also burning on Vancouver Island.
- Cooler temperatures and possible rain later in the week are expected to aid suppression, though officials caution the fire's mapped size may keep growing as crews establish control lines.
Erika Berg Fire information officer, Coastal Fire CentreBC Wildfire Service Provincial firefighting agencyCapital Regional District Local government support partner
How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Officials note persistent fire danger despite start of fall
BCWS says significant fire danger remains in parts of Vancouver Island even as the season turns to fall, keeping open-fire prohibitions in place in the South Island area alongside two other listed out-of-control fires, at Nitinaht Main and near Jordan River.
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UPDATE: The CRD has closed some park and trail areas that are located near the wildfire.
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🇨🇦 😟 🔥 Out-of-control wildfire near Sooke doubles in size to 100 hectares BCWS says significant fire danger also persists in parts of Vancouver Island despite the transition into fall. Open-fire prohibitions remain in place in the South Island area, and people are being urged to check current restrictions and follow them. # VancouverIsland #…
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An out-of-control wildfire north of Sooke grew overnight, and smoke from the fire is expected to linger over Greater Victoria this week, though wet weather is also in the…
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BCWS reiterates fire poses no threat to public safety
Despite the sharp increase in size and visible smoke, BC Wildfire Service says the fire continues to pose no threat to public safety or critical infrastructure, and expects lower temperatures and possible rain later in the week to aid suppression.
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ICYMI: “The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) says the fire, burning about four kilometres west of the Sooke River and south of Mount Jack, is now estimated at 50.4 hectares.” cheknews.ca/wildfire-nea... - @cheknews.ca #BCWildfire #Sooke #VancouverIsland cc: #YYJ
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Fire doubles to more than 100 hectares by Tuesday afternoon — The blaze roughly doubles in size within hours, reaching over 100 hectares with additional growth reported in its southeast corner overnight; multiple crews and bucketing helicopters remain on scene alongside industry partners and the Capital Regional District.
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BCWS pegs fire at 50.4 hectares Tuesday morning
The Coastal Fire Centre's Tuesday-morning estimate puts the fire at 50.4 hectares, with fire information officer Erika Berg attributing growth to lateral spread across the Mount Jack slope in warm, dry, windy conditions.
“We're seeing that fire behavior lessening because it's starting to reach now the north face of the slope, where the impact of the heat and impact of the wind is less.”
— Erika Berg, Coastal Fire Centre -
An out-of-control wildfire burning near Sooke has grown significantly, reaching more than 50 hectares after vigorous fire behaviour Monday afternoon.
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Fire shows 'vigorous' behaviour, grows to 12 hectares
On Monday afternoon the blaze, burning on the slopes of Mount Jack about four kilometres west of the Sooke River, exhibits vigorous fire behaviour and produces a large smoke column visible across Greater Victoria and as far as the southern Cowichan Valley.
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Sooke Hills fire jumps to 10 hectares overnight
BC Wildfire Service's Monday-morning update shows the Leech River wildfire growing from about two to 10 hectares and lists it as out of control, meaning it is expected to keep spreading beyond current lines.
“Smoke and firefighting aircraft may be visible to motorists travelling along Highway 14 and surrounding areas.”
— BC Wildfire Service, Provincial firefighting agency · source -
first by The Globe and Mail, 2d ago · also Sooke News Mirror
1 more headline
- 2nd ‘out of control’ wildfire discovered in Sooke region Sooke News Mirror · 2d ago
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BCWS discovers two new wildfires near Sooke — A wildfire later called the Leech River fire is discovered in the Sooke Hills, hours after a smaller, human-caused blaze sparks near Juan de Fuca Provincial Park at Pat Phillip Creek (0.5 hectares).
What people are saying 2 voices from 1 site · best of 7 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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UPDATE: Wildfire north of Sooke doubles again to 210 hectares, smoke expected to linger
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Out-of-control wildfire near Sooke B.C. doubles in size to 100 hectares