Two recent wildfires on Vancouver Island are now classified as ‘being held’ by BC Wildfire Service.
Under that designation, a fire is unlikely to spread with the containment measures that are in place, but suppression is still taking place until it can be declared under control.
According to the wildfire database, a small fire discovered Thursday morning near Comox Lake, west of Perserverance Creek is being held.
Coastal Fire Centre information officer Gordon Robinson says initial attack teams responded along with Cumberland Fire Rescue following the report, and Cumberland Fire was able to pin the fire down quickly.
Crews are currently investigating the cause. Robinson it is expected to have been human caused with no lightning coming through the area, but it is too early to confirm.
Meanwhile near Port Hardy, the Glenion River fire is also being held after being classified as out of control since Monday. Robinson says crews have completed a wet line around the fire’s perimeter, and they are working to expand that and widen the control line.
With conditions very dry, Robinson is asking for others to stay diligent heading into the long weekend and prevent future fires.
“We’re expecting conditions to get a little cooler over the long weekend, but it is going to be dry and windy still,” said Robinson. “I would just urge people not to get complacent because the temperatures are back around seasonal.
“With the level of drought we’ve had so far this year, it doesn’t take much for that fine fuel to get going and especially on a windy day the rate of spread of a fire can be pretty rapid.”
