Wildfire sparks on tiny island near East Sooke as crews respond
A small wildfire has sparked on a remote island just off the coast of East Sooke, marking the third wildfire reported over the past few days on Vancouver Island.
The blaze was discovered on Monday, May 5th, on Secretary Island—an uninhabited patch of land southwest of East Sooke.
While the fire is relatively small at 0.6 hectares, it remains classified as out of control, and BC Wildfire crews are en route to respond.
This fire follows two others reported a day earlier: one outside of Port Alberni, which is no longer listed on the BC Wildfire Service map, and another near Courtenay that has since been marked Under Control.
The Courtenay blaze is believed to have been human-caused.
The Secretary Island incident adds to growing concerns as the province transitions into warmer, drier conditions. Just last week, officials issued a public reminder to anyone spending time outdoors to use extra caution as wildfire risk begins to rise.
Though there is no official fire ban implemented in BC as of yet, people should still exercise extreme caution when lighting and tending campfires.
Have you spotted smoke or flames while out exploring? Report wildfires by calling 1-800-663-5555 or 5555 from a cell.
